London Irish salvaged an important win in emphatic style with a
gallant comeback to earn a 30-23 home win over Saracens and move into second
place in the Zurich Premiership.
The Madejski Stadium club had looked on course to concede defeat to Saracens
having trailed the Watford-based side for the first hour.
But, in typical Exiles fashion, they held on and scrambled back into
contention with three tries in the last 20 minutes.
Irish now move into second in the Premiership table behind league leaders
Leicester Tigers.
Saracens' chief executive Francois Pienaar however, can take a lot of
positives from today's game, despite the defeat.
Pienaar's men showed the significant progress they have made since being
trounced 13-55 by London Irish a month ago at Vicarage Road.
Saracens benefited hugely from the return of several key players to the
starting line-up.
A month ago the likes of Tim Horan, Jannie De Beer, Kyran Bracken and Richard
Hill were absent, but today all were fit and the difference showed.
The visitors started well and immediately had London Irish on the back foot,
although it was the Exiles who registered the first points.
Irish's Barry Everitt converted a reassuring 14th-minute penalty after
Saracens had rattled the hosts' cage.
De Beer, however, matched Everitt's effort then added a second penalty to put
the visitors 6-3 up after 23 minutes.
Saracens added the first try of the afternoon, although it was a controversial
one.
Irish had been fooled into expecting a penalty kick from De Beer only for the
South African to tap ahead and charge clear before offloading to prop David
Flatman who scored.
De Beer's conversion was greeted with boos from the partisan home crowd.
Everitt hit back with a penalty in the second half, but Saracens maintained
the upper hand.
Darragh O'Mahony capitalised on a mistake by Irish's Richard Kirke and charged
80 metres upfield on the counter-attack to touch down. De Beer again converted,
handing Saracens a 6-20 lead.
But Irish were not downhearted and bounced back immediately. After Saracens
were penalised for consistently infringing, the home side were awarded a penalty
try which Everitt converted to reduce the deficit to 13-20.
Germany international Jeff Fahrenson handed Irish their second try after the
ball was recycled from a ruck following a line-out. The forward caught Saracens
unaware and charged under the posts.
Paul Sackey scored the match-winning try after 76 minutes when he skirted
around Bracken.
Everitt again converted before adding a penalty and even though De Beer added
an injury-time kick, London Irish held on.
Teams
London Irish: Everitt, Edwards, Worsley, Drotske, Drotske, Hardwick,
Strudwick, Williams, Danaher, Dawson, Sheasby, Kirke.
Replacements: Kirke for Worsley (48), Kirke for Drotske (34),
Hatley for Drotske (48), Fahrensohn for Williams (53),
Drotske for Kirke (40).
Not Used: Martens, Cunningham, Hoadley, Cockle.
Tries: Penalty, Fahrensohn, Sackey.
Cons: Everitt 3.
Pens: Everitt 3.
Saracens: Johnson, Sparg, Horan, O'Mahony, Roche, De Beer,
Bracken, Flatman, Russell, Durant, Sorrell, K. Benazzi, Hill,
Roques, Cole.
Replacements: Chesney for Roche (68),
Phillips for Flatman (72), Cairns for Russell (78),
Hooper for K. Benazzi (62).
Not Used: Haughton, Walshe, Arasa.
Tries: Flatman, O'Mahony.
Cons: De Beer 2.
Pens: De Beer 3.
Att: 8,246
Ref: Steve Leyshon (RFU).
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