Paddy Johns wins a line-out against Saracens

Thomas Castaignede scored an eighth minute penalty and then England stalwart Richard Hill landed a try in the 36th minute which Castaignede converted.

Ulster scored their only try early in the second half to go into an encouraging 19-11 lead.

Dunedin-born Shane Stewart, in for the injured Jonathan Bell, went in under the posts after taking a pass from Humphreys who added the conversion.

Carbon copy

Saracens hit back almost immediately with Hill going over for a try which was a carbon copy of his first half score.

Danny Grewcock won the line-out ball and the Saracens pack powered forward with Hill touching down. Castaignede converted to leave it 19-18 for Ulster.

Ryan Constable and Derek Topping challenge Tony Diprose

Humphreys and Castaignede twice exhanged penalties before Saracens took command with their third try of the afternoon.

Castaignede sparked one of the best moves of the match and it ended with former rugby league star Duncan McRae going over close to the posts.

Castaignede added the two points to leave the Zurich Premiership leaders 31-25 ahead and the Frenchman sent a 64th minute penalty in off a post to give them a little bit of breathing space.

Sarries' tails were now up and England international Dan Luger again proved his class as he scored a hat-trick of tries in the last 15 minutes of he game.

Disappointed Ulster skipper Humphreys said: "We are going to have to look at why we fell behind so badly in the last 20 minutes.

"In the second half you saw why Saracens are top of their league and one of the favourites for the European Cup."

Saracens: Castaignede, O'Mahony, Johnston, Sorrell, Luger, McRae, Bracken, Flatman, Russell, Wallace, Davison, Grewcock, Chesney, Hill, Diprose. Replacements: Roques, Cairns, Roche, Phillips, Arasa, Walshe, Sparg.

Ulster: Henderson, J. Topping, Constable, Stewart, Howe, Humphreys, Free, Fitzpatrick, Weir, Best, Johns, Longwell, D. Topping, Ward, McWhirter. Replacements: S. Bell, Malone, Coulter, Boyd, Shields, Blair, McCarey.

Referee: C Giacomel (Italy).