MATCH SUMMARY Saracens (9) 12 Pens: Jackson 4 Leicester (7) 13 Try: Varndell Pens: Goode 2 Con: Goode

The Tigers botched at least four good try-scoring opportunities and had to settle for just one by Tom Varndell.

The in-form wing grabbed his 13th Premiership try of the season from Andy Goode's cross-kick after half an hour.

Goode converted and added two penalties in the second half, Glen Jackson's four penalties Sarries' only response.

He might have won it with a fifth attempt just before the hour, but his effort sailed narrowly wide.

The Kiwi fly-half kicked the home side into a 9-0 lead as he punished Leicester's indiscipline in the first 25 minutes.

We are disappointed to have given away a soft try like that Saracens coach Mike Ford

But Goode, who hooked his first shot at goal, crafted a neat cross-kick that eluded Dan Scarbrough to allow the predatory Varndell to pounce.

Jackson missed an attempted drop-goal as half-time approached but Saracens still held a 9-7 advantage.

Goode landed two penalties in the third quarter to edge the visitors ahead and it proved the end of the scoring.

The retiring Kyran Bracken, who led Sarries out in his last home match, went off to a rapturous reception after 55 minutes.

But his team-mates could not give him a winning send-off, and it should have been a more comprehensive defeat.

Alex Tuilagi lost the ball over the line with an overlap outside him in the first half, then dropped a try-scoring pass from Varndell in the second.

Man-of-the match Lewis Moody was denied a first-half try for a double movement, but his wholehearted defence helped repel Sarries' late rally.