Saracens: 15 (10) Tries: Cairns, Chesney Con: Jackson Pen: Jackson London Irish: 21 (12) Pens: Mapletoft 7

The 33-year-old fly-half landed seven penalties in a thrilling tie to put the 2002 champions into Monday's draw.

Four of them put the Exiles 12-10 ahead at half-time, Saracens replying with a converted try from hooker Matt Cairns.

Three more long-range efforts extended the Exiles' lead to 21-10 before Kris Chesney's late try gave Sarries hope.

Needing a converted try for victory, Saracens hammered away through nine minutes of injury time but could not breach a resolute visitors' defence.

Mapletoft only missed one of his eight shots at goal, but it was a miserable day for his opposite number Glen Jackson.

Our inability to take three points on a regular basis cost us the game Sarries coach Steve Diamond

The New Zealander failed with five of his seven attempts at goal, including a sitter from in front of the posts with his side 18-10 down.

"Jackson is a 90% goalkicker, so we decided to keep faith and not change our kicker," said Sarries coach Steve Diamond.

"Obviously with the benefit of hindsight, it wasn't the best thing to do."

Jackson's off day with the boot allowed Irish to record their fourth consecutive victory at Vicarage Road.

Mapletoft's ninth-minute penalty ended Saracens' initial flurry of pressure, after which the visitors' pack took command.

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Two more in quick succession made it 9-0 before Jackson got Saracens on the board with one of his own after 22 minutes.

But Mapletoft restored the nine-point cushion and Exiles winger Delon Armitage was hauled down inches short of the line by Mark Bartholomeusz moments later.

Instead Saracens scored a beauty at the other end through Cairns after great work from Kyran Bracken and Bartholomeusz.

The hosts might have scored again on the resumption but number eight Ben Skirving failed to spot Tevita Vaikona on his outside after a barnstorming run.

Mark's kicking has left me with a dilemma - I can't leave him out after a performance like that Exiles coach Gary Gold

Mapletoft, who only played after Barry Everitt tore a hamstring in training, piled on the agony with two monster penalties from the halfway line.

Jackson then missed his fourth penalty before Mapletoft landed another from two metres inside his own half to ruthlessly punish the home side.

Saracens appeared to have crossed through Bracken only for referee Sean Davey to call back play for a previous infringement.

The visitors finally buckled in the 72nd minute when Vaikona put replacement Chesney over, Jackson missing the conversion.

Saracens cranked up the pressure in the dying moments, and might have sneaked victory only for Cairns to spill the ball forward with the line beckoning.