Saracens moved three places up the Zurich Premiership table to sixth after a
six-try victory over west London rivals Harlequins.
The writing was on the wall for Harlequins after only a minute when Australian
World Cup centre Tim Horan went over in the right-hand corner after a pass from
winger Gerald Arasa.
South African fly-half Jannie De Beer was unable to convert and if he had been
in form with the boot the margin of victory could have been much greater.
Harlequins very briefly threatened to get back into the game.
A Paul Burke drop goal and then a penalty gave the visitors a narrow lead, but
it lasted only a few minutes before De Beer landed a goal from 48 metres.
Saracens went further in front midway through the first half when Adryan
Winnan collected his own kick ahead for the home side's second try and, with De
Beer converting, Saracens were in command at 15-6.
Burke pulled back a penalty for the visitors.
Two more tries before the break - the first from Tony Roques converted by De
Beer, and the second four minutes from the break from hooker Robbie Russell -
earned Saracens a bonus point before half-time and was also the first time that
they have scored more than three tries all season.
A penalty just on half-time from visitors' fly-half Burke and two further
penalties early in the second period threatened to make a game of it before a
clinching home try after 57 minutes sealed the result.
Scrum-half Kyran Bracken made a break in midfield and out-paced flank forward
Tu Tamarua after Bracken had kicked ahead to score under the posts, and De
Beer's conversion made it 34-18 and left no way back for the visitors.
Saracens added a sixth try five minutes from the end when, after a series of
line-outs, number eight Ben Cole was driven over for an unconverted score.
But this led to the home side using their three remaining replacements and in
the closing stages the visitors scored a consolation try through England centre
Will Greenwood.
He accepted a Kevin Sorrell pass and Burke's conversion narrowed the gap to 14
points, but it was a rare treat for the visitors who were well beaten on the
day.
Teams
Saracens: Winnan, Arasa, Sorrell, Horan, O'Mahony, De Beer,
Bracken, Flatman, Russell, Durant, K. Benazzi, Murray, Hill,
Roques, Cole, Chesney.
Replacements: Haughton for De Beer (75),
Walshe for Bracken (78), Cairns for Russell (78),
Phillips for Durant (59), Chesney for K. Benazzi (52),
Roche for Murray (71), Hooper for Chesney (77).
Tries: Horan, Winnan, Roques, Russell, Bracken, Cole.
Cons: De Beer 3.
Pens: De Beer.
Harlequins: O'Neill, Moore, Greenwood, Greenstock, Luger,
Burke, J. Powell, Starr, Roddam, Leonard, Morgan, Codling,
Winters, Tamarua, Diprose.
Replacements: Bell for Greenstock (41), Dawson for Starr (40),
Davison for Codling (59).
Not Used: Douglas, Alesbrook, Duncombe, Mapletoft.
Tries: Greenwood.
Cons: Burke.
Pens: Burke 5.
Drop Goals: Burke.
Att: 13,257
Ref: Steve Lander (RFU).
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