Saracens (11) 23
Tries: Goode 2 Pens: Goode 4 Hougaard 2.
Leinster (12) 25
Tries: Sexton Con: Sexton Pen: Sexton 6  Sexton's try gave Leinster an 11-point cushion
Johnny Sexton scored all the points for Leinster, who hung on for a vital win over Saracens in the Heineken Cup. Sexton's crucial try after 51 minutes gave the visitors an 11-point lead in what was a closely fought Pool Two clash at Wembley. Saracens rallied late on to close to within two points, but searching for a final score Leinster's resilient defence held during a tense finale. Ultimately, Sexton's 100% record with the boot proved to be the difference. The Irish fly-half scored seven kicks out of seven, and showed no signs of the quad injury that has hampered him over the past two weeks. Man of the match Sexton dominated the scoring against a Sarries side that are rooted at the bottom of the group table and face an uphill struggle to qualify. The kicking of Sexton's opposite number, Derick Hougaard, was less consistent and he sent an early penalty against the woodwork.  | 606: DEBATE |
In a first half initially dictated by the boot, Saracens' full-back Alex Goode scored the opening try, with Leinster's Luke Fitzgerald, for all his speed, unable to get across in time to prevent the score. The Irish visitors adopted a more conservative approach throughout the half, but were denied a try by the video referee after sight of the ball was lost, with Steve Borthwick obscuring the view of it on the goal-line. As Sexton continued to hit home Leinster's penalties with mechanical consistency, Sarries almost handed the initiative straight back to their opponents when they conceded the ball immediately from the restart. The home side survived the scare, despite the loss of 80 yards, but it was Saracens' ponderous attacking play that cost them against the visitors' disciplined defence. Indeed, the Irish side were also the more fluid, despite being without the injured Brian O'Driscoll. However, neither side did enough to dominate. In a game of few chances, Borthwick spurned an opportunity for Saracens just before half-time when he chose to drive for the line rather than making use of the overlapping runs to his left. Hougaard collapsed in the 46th minute just as he released a pass to his left with what appeared to be a serious Achilles tendon injury. Noah Cato replaced him, with Goode moving into the fly-half position, with Leinster's Luke Fitzgerald also being withdrawn through injury. The move inside seemed to liberate Goode, who kicked four penalties in what was an imposing display by the 22-year-old. Sexton capped his own tremendous all-round performance with a 51st minute try. His conversion represented his sixth successful kick from six, and gave the away side an 11-point lead. Goode closed the gap to five points with two successful penalties and, with Saracens boosted by the yellow card to Leinster's Richard Strauss, they sensed they could salvage something in the final 10 minutes. A fourth penalty for Goode put Sarries to within two points, but a watertight Leinster defence held firm in the face of monumental late pressure. The loss represents Saracens' second loss in the Heineken Cup, having suffered a 25-10 defeat by Clermont Auvergne, but Leinster have now won two out of two, after their impressive 38-22 victory over French high flyers Racing-Metro 92 in Dublin.
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