England international Dan Luger inspired Saracens with a hat-trick of tries to
destroy the Zurich Premiership's bottom club Rotherham at Vicarage Road.
Saracens now lead reigning champions Leicester by a point after notching their
fifth win out of seven games this season.
Richard Hill sparked Saracens' try bonanza on a rain-soaked pitch after just
five minutes when he muscled his way over Rotherham's line after good work by
new recruit Thomas Castaignede and Duncan McRae.
Full-back Castaignede missed the conversion but made amends minutes later with
a successful penalty.
A questionable refereeing decision by Steve Leyshon gave the home side their
next score after 10 minutes with Castaignede chasing a loose ball fed by McRae.
The French international looked to have failed to ground the ball sufficiently
but Leyshon gave the score to take Saracens tally to 13 points.
Western Samoan Mike Umaga hit back for Rotherham with a try minutes later
thanks to a napping McRae but that proved to be the visitors sole score of the
day.
Saracens continued to dominate with Kyran Bracken adding a try and another
penalty and conversion by Castaignede gave Saracens a 21-point advantage at the
break.
The one-way traffic continued in the second half with Luger scoring a
remarkable hat-trick of tries in the space of six minutes, Castaignede duly
converted all three to put Saracens 47-5 ahead.
Forward Paul Wallace and French wizard Castaignede continued to rub salt into
Rotherham's wounds as their two tries took Saracens past the half century mark.
Rotherham meanwhile are left still searching for that allusive first
Premiership win of the season as they stay rooted to the bottom of the league.
Teams
Saracens: Castaignede, O'Mahony, Johnston,
Sorrell, Luger,
McRae, Bracken, Flatman, Russell, Wallace, Grewcock, Davison,
Chesney, Hill, Diprose.
Replacements: Arasa for Johnston (67), Walshe for Bracken (46),
Phillips for Flatman (74), Roques for Chesney (68).
Not Used: Cairns, Murray, Sparg.
Tries: Hill, Castaignede 2, Bracken, Luger 3,
Wallace.
Cons: Castaignede 5.
Pens: Castaignede 3.
Rotherham: Greaves, Dixon, Naylor, Northey, Dawson, Umaga,
Harrison, Thorp, Garnett, Olver, Parr, Greeff, Fea'unati,
Spence, Schmid.
Replacements: Shepherd for Dixon (63),
Scully for Harrison (61), Bunting for Thorp (64),
Johnson for Garnett (58), Turner for Olver (64),
Cook for Parr (58), Earnshaw for Schmid (58).
Tries: Umaga.
Att: 6,092
Ref: S Leyshon (RFU).
Teams:
Saracens:
Tries: Hill, Castaignede 2, Bracken, Luger 3,
Wallace.
Cons: Castaignede 5.
Pens: Castaignede 3.
Saracens: Castaignede, O'Mahony, Johnston,
Sorrell, Luger,
McRae, Bracken, Flatman, Russell, Wallace, Grewcock, Davison,
Chesney, Hill, Diprose.
Replacements: Arasa for Johnston (67), Walshe for Bracken (46),
Phillips for Flatman (74), Roques for Chesney (68).
Not Used: Cairns, Murray, Sparg.
Rotherham:
Tries: Umaga.
Rotherham: Greaves, Dixon, Naylor, Northey, Dawson, Umaga,
Harrison, Thorp, Garnett, Olver, Parr, Greeff, Fea'unati,
Spence, Schmid.
Replacements: Shepherd for Dixon (63),
Scully for Harrison (61), Bunting for Thorp (64),
Johnson for Garnett (58), Turner for Olver (64),
Cook for Parr (58), Earnshaw for Schmid (58).
Att: 6,092
Ref: S Leyshon (RFU).