Saracens ended their three-match losing Premiership streak with a last-ditch
stoppage time victory over Harlequins, who have not won an away Premiership
match for over 20 months.
Saracens took off like an express train scoring three tries but Harlequins
came back just before the break and two early tries in the second period ensured
a tight finish.
Fly-half Andy Goode set the ball rolling after only a couple of minutes with a
penalty.
With the visitors still half asleep a second penalty, this time inside the 22,
saw Kyran Bracken take a quick tap and he charged over the line for the opening
try. Goode's conversion gave Saracens a 10-0 lead.
Six minutes later Saracens went further in front when the Harlequins defence
was sucked in to cover the blind side and Australian international Tim Horan ran
40 metres in a loop into the open side to run in for an outstanding score.
Goode added a penalty inside 14 minutes to put the home side 18 points clear
and firmly in command.
Quins hit back with a Nathan Williams penalty after 24 minutes only for Goode
to restore the 18-point advantage once Ben Gollings was judged to have fouled
Adryan Winnan when attempting to catch a 50-50 high ball.
Horton increased the home team's lead with a third try after 31 minutes but
the visitors gave themselves a lifeline just before the break when Matt Moore
slid in for the first score.
David Flatman's yellow card early in the second period was the signal for
Harlequins to step up a gear and former South African skipper Andre Vos forced
himself over the try line from close range for a try that Williams converted to
bring the visitors back into the match.
Nick Duncombe added a third try for Harlequins after 56 minutes that Williams
again converted to bring the scores to within four points.
Goode landed a penalty to put his side a converted score ahead but nine
minutes from the end Matt Moore went in for his second try after a superb
cross-field kick from Gollings and it was all to play for.
Nathan Williams landed a penalty for Quins with four minutes remaining but
Saracens sneaked it at the death when Horan made 40 metres and Andy Kershaw
dived over the line from close range and Goode's conversion ensured the home
side victory.
Teams
Saracens: Winnan, Haughton, Sorrell, Horan, O'Mahony, Goode,
Bracken, Flatman, Cairns, Califano, Benazzi, Yandell, Chesney,
Roques, B. Russell.
Not Used: Kershaw, Marsters, Hooper, Quinnell, Peacey,
Williams, Sparg.
Tries: Bracken, Horan, Haughton, Kershaw.
Cons: Goode 2.
Pens: Goode 4.
Harlequins: N. Williams, Moore, Satala, Greenstock, Gollings,
D. Slemen, Duncombe, Starr, Wood, Gomez, Davison, Codling,
Tiatia, Vos, Diprose.
Not Used: Fuga, Cardinalli, Evans, Sheriff, Bemand, Jewell,
Fitzgerald.
Tries: Moore 2, Vos, Duncombe.
Cons: N. Williams 2.
Pens: N. Williams 2.
Att: 6,634
Ref: Roy Maybank (RFU).
E-mail Article 
Print-Friendly
Subscribe to RSS Feed 
Post to del.icio.us
Facebook