 Richard Haughton scored a late winner to give Sarries the points |
Saracens (9) 24
Tries: Powell, Haughton
Cons: Jackson
Pens: Ross 2
Drop-goals: Ross, Jackson London Irish (11) 20
Tries: Armitage
Pens: Armitage 3, Hewat 2
Saracens won a topsy-turvy game which saw the lead change seven times.
London Irish took the lead through Delon Armitage's try before Gordon Ross landed a drop-goal and two penalties.
Two Armitage penalties put the Exiles ahead again, Glen Jackson nudged the hosts back in front before Peter Hewat's boot restored the Exiles' lead.
Adam Powell's try put Sarries back in front and although the Exiles regained the lead through two penalties, Richard Haughton's try gave Sarries victory.
The winning try came as a result of a big gamble from Saracens fly-half Jackson.
When the hosts were awarded a late penalty in front of the posts trailing 20-19 they could have gone for a three-pointer, but Jackson decided to kick to the corner.
Haughton was waiting and he managed to gather the ball and dot down to give Saracens victory.
Saracens fly-half Jackson on his gamble to kick the late penalty to Haughton: "If I'd missed I would be going back to New Zealand I suppose.
"I've been in a situation where we've kicked a goal against London Irish two years ago and they've come back and kicked a goal on full-time, so I just thought it was an opportunity to take it to a four-point game.
"I've told our wingers to see if the options on so, to be fair to Richard, he was waving his hand around."
London Irish boss Brian Smith: "Fair play to Jacko. It took big balls to kick for the corner, because if he miscues it's game over. Either way the game is over after that penalty.
"The boys are disappointed. They knew the game was in the balance with that penalty decision.
"Yes we've learned a lesson - you've got to mark up - but either way, the game was over."
Saracens: Haughton; Penney, Sorrell, Powell, Ratuvou; Ross, De Kock (capt), Lloyd, Cairns, Visagie, Ryder, Vyvyan, Chesney, Seymour, Gustard
Replacements: Kyriacou, Johnston, Fullarton, Skirving, Rauluni, Jackson, Leonelli
London Irish: Hewat; De Vedia, Armitage, Mapusua, Tagicakibau; Catt, Richards; Murphy, Paice, Lea'aetoa, Kennedy, Casey (capt), Roche, Danaher, Murphy
Replacements: Skuse, Coetzee, Hudson, Thorpe, Armitage, Hodgson, Ojo.
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