Harlequins (6) 13
Tries: Robshaw Cons: Urdapilleta Pens: Clegg 2
Saracens (6) 16
Tries: Farrell Cons: Farrell Pens: Goode 2, Farrell

Saracens resisted a late Harlequins onslaught to seal victory

Saracens secured a Premiership play-off semi-final against Gloucester next week after their 10th successive victory.

Owen Farrell's second-half try, conversion and penalty proved decisive.

Sarries were on course to finish the regular season top of the table until Leicester produced a dramatic comeback at Welford Road to beat London Irish.

Quins finish seventh and miss out on an automatic Heineken Cup place but can yet qualify if they beat Stade Francais in the Amlin Challenge Cup final.

Another possible route into Europe's premier competition for Conor O'Shea's men is if Northampton win the Heineken Cup.

Alex Goode nudged Saracens into a 6-0 lead with two penalties before tempers flared after Jacques Burger was felled by a dangerous-looking challenge, although referee Tim Wigglesworth took no action.

Rory Clegg landed his second attempt and as Quins built the pressure and earned a penalty under the Saracens posts, he ensured the scores were level at the interval.

Saracens had begun the second half brightly, and their pack drove forward to push Harlequins off their own ball, Neil De Kock feeding Farrell who scored despite Ugo Monye's best efforts.

Farrell converted and then landed a penalty to push Saracens 16-6 clear and into a winning position.

Jacques Burger was sin-binned late on after a period of persistent Saracens offences and Chris Robshaw galloped clear to score for Harlequins.

Sarries held on, however, and will face the Cherry and Whites at Vicarage Road next Sunday for a place at Twickenham.

Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall:

"It would have been a nice thing to be first past the post but I also think that winning 18 games out of 22 is one heck of an achievement.

"It is all about next week now and Gloucester will be a tough match. Gloucester are one of the most dangerous attacking teams in the Premiership.

"We have got to be way better next week."

Harlequins director of rugby Conor O'Shea:

"Mentally Saracens are the toughest side in the Premiership, they know their roles and stick to that pattern and I make them absolute favourites to win the Premiership.

"I know Leicester, Gloucester and Northampton will have something to say about that but there is just something about Saracens that makes you think they will go that extra yard this year.

"They are right up there now and they have earned that right.

"We are disappointed sitting here, we lost a game of rugby we went to win but we are so positive with what we have done this season. We are looking to win a European trophy.

"Everybody knows it will be a tight game with us in it, that is proven. From 35 games we have either won or been within a score in 32 of them.

"We will have our full strength side out on the pitch and I am really excited."

Harlequins: Brown, Camacho, Lowe, Turner-Hall, Monye, Clegg, Care, Jones, Cairns, Johnston, Kohn, Robson, Fa'asavalu, Robshaw, Easter.

Replacements: Chisholm for Monye (78), Urdapilleta for Clegg (70), Lambert for Jones (70), Buchanan for Cairns (70), Andress for Johnston (58), Browne for Kohn (62).

Not Used: Wallace, Moore.

Saracens: Goode, Strettle, Wyles, Barritt, Short, Farrell, De Kock, Stevens, Brits, Nieto, Smith, Botha, Burger, Saull, Joubert.

Replacements: Borthwick for Strettle (45), Mordt for Wyles (62), Cato for Farrell (74), Wigglesworth for de Kock (52), Gill for Stevens (45), George for Brits (68), Du Plessis for Nieto (62), Melck for Saull (60).

Sin-bin: Burger (75).

Att: 14,282

Ref: Tim Wigglesworth (RFU).

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