Jackson scored 14 points of his side's points

Saracens 19 (16)
Tries: Penalty
Cons: Jackson
Pens: Jackson 4

London Irish 8 (0)
Pen: Flutey
Tries: D Armitage

Saracens outplayed London Irish at Vicarage Road to climb up to fifth in the Premiership table.

The home side did not make their dominance tell though as they wasted several try-scoring chances.

Nevertheless, a penalty try - plus Glenn Jackson's kicks - took Saracens to a comfortable 16-0 half-time lead.

The second half saw the Exiles battle back, and Riki Flutey's penalty and a late Delon Armitage try cut the gap but Saracens were well worth their win.

Jackson mishit his first kick at goal horribly, but Saracens soon put the miss behind them as they totally dominated the first half.

In fact, the home side should have been out of sight with half an hour gone but a lack of clinical finishing held back their progress.

Richard Haughton paid the price for holding the ball loosely in one hand as Exiles centre Mike Catt knocked the ball out of his grasp just short of the tryline.

London Irish got short shrift from the Saracens defence

A muscular drive ended up with Matt Cairns at the bottom of a pile of bodies, but the Saracens hooker did not convince the video referee that he had touched the ball down.

Two Jackson penalties did at least reflect Saracens' superiority on the scoreboard, but the tries would not come.

Kameli Ratuvou was bundled into touch by Armitage by the corner flag, while Kevin Sorell's touchdown was ruled out for a debatable forward pass - flipped on over his head - from Haughton.

Saracens did finally get a five-pointer, but it came courtesy of a penalty try after London Irish's retreating scrum buckled under the pressure.

London Irish actually enjoyed the lion's share of possession but were not able to do much with it, while an appalling missed penalty from Flutey further undermined their hopes.

The second half was a more scrappy affair although the Exiles did at least start to play with more penetration.

They were rewarded with a Flutey penalty, but any lingering hopes they had of getting back into the match disappeared with Nick Kennedy's yellow card.

The lock was sin-binned for coming through offside to tackle Neil de Kock after a thrilling break - sparked by the outstanding Jackson - took Saracens within sight of the tryline.

London Irish did finally produce the sort of rugby of which they are capable towards the end of the match, springing from their own 22 and going through the phases before Armitage went over.

"He played well in a losing side and if Brian Ashton wants someone in midfield then Mike put his best foot forward against Saracens."

Saracens: Dan Scarbrough; Richard Haughton, Kevin Sorrell, Adam Powell, Kameli Ratuvou; Glen Jackson, Neil de Kock; Kevin Yates, Matt Cairns, Cobus Visagie, Iain Fullarton, Simon Raiwalui, Kris Chesney, Richard Hill, Ben Skirving.
Replacements: Fabio Ongaro, Cencus Johnston, Hugh Vyvyan, David Seymour, Alan Dickens, Rodd Penney, Thomas Castaignede.

London Irish: Delon Armitage; Topsy Ojo, Seilala Mapusua, Mike Catt (capt), Tagicakibau; Riki Flutey, Paul Hodgson; Neal Hatley, Danie Coetzee, Faan Rautenbach, Nick Kennedy, Bob Casey, Kieran Roche, Steffon Armitage, Juan Leguizamon.
Replacements: Tonga Lea'aetoa, Robbie Russell, James Hudson, Phil Murphy, Justin Bishop, Ben Willis, Nils Mordt.