Andy Goode led the way with a 24-point haul as Saracens brought early
Premiership pacesetters Harlequins down to earth with a 39-33 victory at
Vicarage Road.
Harlequins got off to a perfect start scoring through former Newport prop
forward Ceri Jones following a line-out after four minutes, and with Paul Burke
converting the visitors were 7-0 ahead and seemingly on course for their fourth
straight win of the season.
But the wheels came off in spectacular fashion in an 18-minute spell as
fly-half Goode, who finished the game with five penalties, three conversions and
a drop goal to his name, suddenly hit the jackpot after missing a 45-metre
penalty.
The former Leicester man quickly atoned for the miss with a drop goal from
some distance set up by ex-Harlequins lock Alex Codling who was making his debut
for Saracens against his former club.
Goode then kicked his side ahead with two quick-fire penalties both from some
distance including one from the half-way line, as the men in black suddenly took
command.
Harlequins seemed set to grab back the lead but lost the ball deep inside the
Saracens' 22 and as the ball was quickly transferred to Nathan McAvoy the former
Bradford Bulls winger sprinted 60m upfield before drawing the fullback and
offloading to Thomas Castaignede who touched down by the posts. With Goode's
conversion the home team were suddenly in command at 16-7.
England Sevens ace Richard Haughton was sin-binned soon afterwards and Burke
reduced the deficit with a penalty.
Goode replied with a penalty for the home side as the visitors coughed up
possession. Burke added a penalty before the break and at 19-13 the visitors
were still in with a shout.
But it all went completely pear-shaped for Harlequins after the break as Goode
quickly added two penalties that saw his team ease 12 points ahead at 25-13.
The home side then increased their lead a minute later when Castaignede ran
the ball back 48m upfield with a stunning cross-field run, before offloading to
Haughton who touched down in the right-hand corner. Goode's conversion made it
32-13.
Burke added a penalty but the game was all but over on the hour when
Harlequins failed to deal with a high kick from Andy Goode and former New
Zealand skipper Taine Randell scored his second try in successive matches and
with Goode adding the extras it was virtually all over at 39-16.
However fair play to Harlequins who somehow came back in an amazing final
15-minute spell which saw Saracens lose two players to the sin bin in separate
incidents.
The first after 73 minutes saw Andy Kershaw take the long walk off the field
and from a set scrum under the posts Harlequins were awarded a penalty try which
Andy Dunne converted.
Saracens almost scored a fourth try that would have seen them earn a bonus
point but McAvoy dropped the ball over the line and in a wonderful finale Kris
Chesney became the third Saracen to be sin-binned in the match.
Harlequins gained a bonus point with a very late try in stoppage time through
Simon Keogh that Dunne converted and Dunne was able to at least salvage a bonus
point for the visitors with a penalty from the restart.
Teams
Saracens: Castaignede, Haughton, Sorrell, Johnson, McAvoy,
Goode, Phibbs, Sparks, Parkes, Bergamaschi, Raiwalui, Codling,
Chesney, Roques, Randell.
Replacements: Kershaw, Ross, Marsters, Skirving, Peacey, Kirton,
Bartholomeusz.
Tries: Castaignede, Haughton, Randell.
Cons: Goode 3.
Pens: Goode 5.
Drop Goals: Goode.
Sin Bin: Haughton (30).
Harlequins: Duffy, Jewell, J. Taumalolo, Deane, Monye, Burke,
Willis, Jones, Tiatia, Dawson, Davison, Evans, Sanderson, Vos,
Diprose.
Replacements: Fuga, Worsley, Gomez, Winters, Sheriff, Keogh, Dunne.
Tries: Jones, Penalty, Keogh.
Cons: Burke, Dunne 2.
Pens: Burke 3, Dunne.
Att: 6,380
Ref: David Rose (RFU).
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