Saracens overcame a struggling Newcastle side despite losing Tim Horan with an
injury after just 13 minutes of this Zurich Premiership clash.
The home side sprung a surprise with Horan starting at fly-half and Andy Goode
on the bench.
But the vastly experienced Australian's planned link-up with captain Kyran
Bracken at scrum-half was short-lived as Horan was forced off through injury.
Newcastle took the lead after just five minutes with Liam Botham scoring with
a penalty from just inside his own half.
The reliable boot of Goode brought the home side back to level terms in the
17th minute when the Falcons second row Hugh Vyvyan was caught offside and the
former Leicester Tigers player slotted over from the 22-metre line.
The home side started to exert considerable pressure on the Falcons line after
20 minutes after the visitin full-back Joe Shaw knocked on.
Sarries expelled plenty of energy but lacked the guile to force their way over
the try line.
Centre Kevin Sorrell sliced through down the middle in the 27th minute but,
with the line beckoning just five metres away, managed to search out the only
Newcastle player in front of him to stop a certain try.
But the pressure finally told on the visitors' defence.
Newcastle lost a line-out close to their line and the Sarries pack drove over,
with hooker Matt Cairns claiming the try. Goode failed to convert, leaving the
score at 8-3.
Newcastle reduced the lead to just two points with Samoan fly-half Earl Va'a
scoring with a penalty in first half injury time.
But with the final kick of the half Goode restored Saracens' lead of five
points with another penalty from two metres within his own half, leaving the
half-time score 11-6.
The second half was a much more lively affair with both sides showing greater
fluency and ambition.
Prop David Flatman, a second half replacement for Saracens, was on the pitch
for just three minutes before making his way back to the bench after he was
yellow-carded.
Goode increased Sarries' lead to 14-6 early in the second half with a drop
goal.
Newcastle, playing with greater desire than their abysmal away record would
suggest, came back to score under the posts when Epi Taione was driven over in
the 74th minute. Va'a converted to make the score 14-13.
In a tense finish Goode confirmed victory for the home side with a drop goal
in the last minute.
Teams:
Saracens: Winnan, Haughton, Sorrell, Johnston, O'Mahony, Horan,
Bracken, Califano, Cairns, Marsters, Quinnell, Benazzi,
Chesney, Roques, B. Russell.
Not Used: Flatman, Kershaw, Yandell, Peacey, Kirton, Goode,
Sparg.
Tries: Cairns.
Pens: Goode 2.
Drop Goals: Goode 2.
Newcastle: Shaw, Botham, Noon, May,
Stephenson, Va'a, Grindal,
Ward, Thompson, Hurter, Vyvyan, Hamilton, Taione, Dowson,
Dunbar.
Not Used: Charlton, Godman, Isaacson, Devonshire, Springgay,
Peel, Makin.
Tries: Taione.
Cons: Va'a.
Pens: Botham, Va'a.
Att: 5,742
Ref: Geraint Aston Jones (RFU).
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