Saracens (11) 21 Tries: Ratuvou 2 Cons: Jackson Pens: Jackson 2, Hougaard Leeds (6) 15 Pens: Thomas 4 Drop-goal: Thomas
Ratuvou's two tries for Saracens were the difference at Vicarage Road
Saracens went back to the top of the Guinness Premiership but they made heavy weather of beating winless Leeds.
Two penalties apiece from fly-halves Glen Jackson and Ceiron Thomas made it 6-6 after 25 minutes at Vicarage Road.
Kameli Ratuvou scored a try for Saracens either side of half-time but two Thomas penalties ensured Leeds kept in touch with their hosts.
Derick Hougaard then made it 21-12 with a penalty, but Thomas's last-gasp drop-goal gave Leeds a losing bonus point.
Saracens started the weekend as league leaders and they made it six wins out of six on Sunday, but they have been criticised for a limited game plan which relies heavily on the use of the boot and it was again in evidence on Sunday.
Promoted Leeds have been outclassed this season, notably in shipping a half century of points at home to London Irish, but they were never less than committed at Vicarage Road and Saracens struggled to break them down.
The two sides were locked together at 6-6 after 25 minutes before Saracens went close to scoring the first try of the game, Ratuvou nearly crossing after taking an inside pass from Neil de Kock.
The Fijian was denied by a fine Leigh Hinton tackle but Thomas infringed at the resulting ruck and was sin-binned to reduce Leeds to 14 men.
Seru Rabeni then tackled Noah Cato into touch as he tried to dive over in the corner before Leeds went close to a try themselves just before the break.
It looked like Hendre Fourie had touched down Hinton's grubber kick but the referee ruled Saracens had dotted down before the South African got to the ball.
And it went from bad to worse for the visitors as, with just seconds remaining of the half remaining, Hinton thumped the ball down field rather than kick to touch.
Former Springbok hooker Schalk Brits ran the ball back and when it was moved to the left Ratuvou powered through Hinton's attempted tackle to score the first try of the game.
Jackson missed the conversion from wide out as Saracens took a scarcely-deserved 11-6 lead into the break.
Leeds had made Saracens look distinctly ordinary during the first 40 minutes and when Thomas cut the gap to two points with his third penalty it looked as though an upset might still be on the cards.
But versatile back Ratuvou soon went over for a second time, with Jackson converting to make it 18-9.
Saracens were still unable to show the supposed gulf in class between the two sides and Thomas once again cut the gap with a penalty.
A losing bonus point was the least the plucky visitors deserved but when replacement Hougaard landed a 77th-minute penalty it looked as though they would head north empty-handed.
However, Leeds still had time to mount one last attack and Thomas coolly slotted a drop-goal between the sticks to give rock-bottom Carnegie some reward for their efforts.
Saracens captain Steve Borthwick: "We had a very, very honest meeting in which it was agreed that we were wasteful.
"In cricket you need to build an innings. We tried to but failed, so we are not the finished article.
"Six wins from six is very good, but we are working hard to make sure we are less wasteful and more ruthless."
Leeds boss Neil Back:
"The whole squad are very, very disappointed. We are learning and improving with every game since winning promotion, but this was a game we should have won.
"We created plenty of problems for Saracens and that will give our boys deserved confidence."
Replacements: Hougaard for Jackson (57), de Kock for Marshall (27), Aguero for Gill (49), Reynecke for Brits (62), Skuse for Nieto (49), Vyvyan for Botha (56), Melck for Saull (58), Tagicakibau for Hougaard (80).
Replacements: H Paul for Hinton (72), Fa'afili for Blackett (61), Mathie for Gomarsall (49), Hardy for McGee (49), Ma'asi for Nilsen (54), Swainston for Gomez (68), Lund for Murphy (54), Clark for Myall (61).
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