Leeds Tykes plunged Harlequins into Zurich Premiership relegation trouble with
a much-needed victory over Saracens.
The Headingley side, who had not previously won away from home all season,
picked up four much-needed points to move one place up the table.
Leeds now have 23 points, with two crucial games in hand on basement side
Quins, who have only collected a poor 22 points from 16 games.
For Saracens it was another below-par performance for the Vicarage Road outfit
who now boast a near full-strength side, with the likes of skipper Abdel Benazzi
back in action.
The contest in the first half was close, but far from exciting, as the game
was as dreary as the wet weather.
South Africans Luke Smith and Braam van Straaten exchanged penalties for the
first 38 minutes to make the score 12-12 until new Tykes' recruit Japie Mulder
finally livened up the proceedings with an injury-time try.
Leeds pushed the Saracens defence hard and were rewarded with a scrum five
metres from the goal line.
The ball came out and finally van Straaten passed wide to Mulder, who
scrambled his way over the line.
Fly-half van Straaten converted to give the visitors a morale-boosting 12-19
lead at the break.
Leeds then continued to rise to the challenge and after 53 minutes they
extended their lead to 10 points with another van Straaten penalty.
Saracens hit back with Smith's fifth penalty, but van Straaten cancelled his
score with another successful kick minutes later.
Forward Dan Hyde then crashed over for Leeds' second try with nine minutes to
go.
A third try, with just two minutes to go before full-time, summed up another
disastrous outing for Saracens.
Replacement scrum-half Nick Walsh was careless with the ball and literally
handed van Straaten possession.
He kicked the ball up field on the right wing for Chris Hall to touch down.
Again van Straaten converted to complete the scoring.
Teams:
Saracens: Saracens: Winnan, Johnson, Sorrell, Horan, Horan, Arasa, Smith,
Bracken, Flatman, Russell, Durant, K. Benazzi, Murray, Chesney,
Roques, Hill, O'Mahony.
Replacements: O'Mahony for Horan (24), O'Mahony for Horan (68),
Walshe for Bracken (77), Cairns for Russell (56),
Harbut for Durant (63), A. Benazzi for K. Benazzi (44),
Roche for Murray (73), Cole for Chesney (75),
Horan for O'Mahony (29).
Pens: Smith 5.
Leeds: Scarborough, Hall, Woof, Mulder, Emmerson, van Straaten,
Benton, Shelley, Rawlinson, Kerr, C. Murphy, Palmer, Mather,
Hyde, Fea'unati.
Replacements: P. Murphy for C. Murphy (40).
Not Used: Fullman, Luffman, Hogg, O'Reilly, Bachop, Benson.
Sin Bin: C. Murphy (13).
Tries: Mulder 2, Hall.
Cons: van Straaten 2.
Pens: van Straaten 6.
Att: 4,325
Ref: Ashley Rowden (RFU).
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