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Page last updated at 17:14 GMT, Sunday, 5 December 2010

Saracens 26-14 Harlequins

Saracens (20) 26
Tries: Strettle, Brits Cons: Farrell 2 Pens: Farrell 4
Harlequins (11) 14
Tries: Lowe Pens: Evans 3

Schalk Brits
Try scorer Schalk Brits skips away from Mike Brown at Vicarage Road

Fly-half Owen Farrell inspired Saracens to a win over Harlequins that lifts them up to third in the Premiership.

Farrell, kicked four penalties and converted tries by David Strettle and Schalk Brits.

Quins got an early lead through George Lowe's try, but Farrell's boot and the scores from Strettle and Brits helped Sarries to a 20-11 half-time lead.

In a second-half dominated by the boot, Farrell and Nick Evans traded kicks as Saracens closed out the win.

It was the visitors who made the brighter start, in the shape of Lowe's fourth-minute try.

A big hit on Brits and a late tackle on Farrell caused confusion during a Saracens attack, with the ball falling into the path of winger Lowe, who ran in unopposed.

Evans missed the conversion and Saracens regrouped, getting on the board with Farrell's first penalty after Chris Robshaw was penalised for failing to roll away from a tackle.

Farrell was also involved in Strettle's try, as the 19-year-old fed the England international, who side-stepped Will Skinner for a simple score under the posts.

After converting Strettle's try, Farrell, the son of Sarries coach Andy, added his second penalty before Brits touched down to put the hosts out of sight.

Sarries forced a turnover and launched into a fluent move involving Strettle and Jacques Burger that ended as a driving maul which Harlequins could not resist.

When the bodies untangled, it was hooker Brits that emerged clutching the ball for his fifth try of the season.

Evans reduced the arrears with a penalty before half-time but Saracens continued to boss the game in the early part of the second period.

Their efforts went largely unrewarded and, as tempers frayed, kicks from Farrell and Evans were the only other impressions made on the scoreline.


Saracens coach Andy Farrell:
"It was particularly good to see Owen kicking so well tactically, taking his time and making his decisions calmly.

"The best fly-halves play as if they are wearing dinner suits, that is when they are controlling things and looking settled.

"We worked hard for that win and deserved it. Now it's about switching our focus to the Heineken Cup and the visit of Racing Metro to Vicarage Road next weekend."

Harlequins rugby director Conor O'Shea:
"We came here with so many high hopes, yet we did not fire a bullet. It is very disappointing, especially after making so promising a start.

"We need to be more ruthless in terms of taking our chances and in protecting our possession. We have a splendid record at Twickenham Stoop, and there is no reason why we should not be more successful on the road."


Saracens: Wyles; Strettle, Tagicakibau, Barritt, Short; Farrell, Wigglesworth; Carstens, Brits, Nieto, Borthwick, Botha, Burger, Saull, Joubert.

Replacements: de Kock for Wigglesworth (52), Du Plessis for Carstens (51), Gill for Nieto (51), Kruis for Botha (71), K. Brown for Saull (51). Not Used: George, Mordt, Cato.

Harlequins: Brown; Lowe, O. Smith, Turner-Hall, Williams; Evans, Dickson; Marler, Gray, Johnston, Vallejos Cinalli, Robson, Robshaw, Skinner, Guest.

Replacements: Camacho for O. Smith (29), Care for Dickson (38), Jones for Marler (68), Brooker for Gray (58), Lambert for Johnston (54), Kohn for Vallejos Cinalli (54), Easter for Skinner (38). Not Used: Clegg.

Attendance: 6,035

Referee: Andrew Small (RFU).



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see also
Guscott's predictions
05 Dec 10 |  English
Venter to quit Saracens for home
30 Nov 10 |  Saracens
Gloucester 19-13 Saracens
27 Nov 10 |  English
Harlequins 51-18 Leeds
28 Nov 10 |  English


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