Full time: Saints suffer first defeat in EDF Energy Cup
Saints suffered their first defeat in the EDF Energy Cup as Saracens kept their hopes alive with victory.
It was two tries each in the first half with Noah Cato and Moses Rauluni dotting down for Saracens and Ben Foden and Roger Wilson scoring for Saints.
But there was none in the second half as Saints came up against well-marshalled Sarries defence and crucial mistakes and losing attacking lineouts letting them down.
Saints started well with Courtney Lawes taking the kick-off to keep Sarries pinned in their own half.
But they got no change out of the home side's defence and when Saracens got into Saints' 22 they immediately broke through with Noah Cato slipping through Lee Dickson and then just having the strength to take Ben Foden over the line with him.
Gordon Ross missed the conversion and when Saints' Roger Wilson nicked a lineout in Sarries territory a penalty at a ruck allowed Stephen Myler to make it 5-3.
A great 20m drive with Andy Farrell at the front won Saracens a penalty straight in front that Ross landed to make it 8-3 on 17 minutes.
Two minutes later though and Steve Borthwick came in at the side to allow Myler to make it 8-6. And from the kick-off tryscorer Cato was yellow-carded for dangerously tackling Dickson in the air.
But Saints were turned over at the lineout 10m into their half and scrum-half Rauluni darted through a big hole off a ruck to score under the posts.
Saints hit straight back as Ashton slipped down the right touchline to pass inside to Foden to touch down. Strangely Myler missed the easy conversion to make it 15-11 to Saracens.
From the kick-off Saints were penalised at a ruck and Ross landed the penalty to make it 18-11 after 27 minutes.
Just before Cato came back on Saints struck again. Foden made the incisive break and quick ball back to Myler saw him kick to the wing where Roger Wilson took the catch, rolled out of Andy Saull's tackle and touched down for his first try for the club. Myler missed the touchline conversion to leave the score at 18-16 with 10 minutes to go to the break.
After missing with one attempt, Ross ended the half with a drop goal to make it 21-16 at the break.
Sarries opened the half with a great catch from Francisco Leonelli, a penalty comes inside Saints 22, but Ross missed the easy kick.
But eight minutes into the half Nils Modrt kicked out on the full and when Ben Lewitt put his hands into a ruck a penalty from Ross extended Saracens lead to 24-16.
Saints brought Euan Murray on after 55 minutes and he immediately squeezed a penalty out of a scrum and Myler landed the 30m kick to make it 24-19.
But Ross restored the eight point lead seven minutes later.
With 15 minutes to go Saints found themselves under the cosh and after being lucky to get a stern talking to and not a yellow for a high swinging arm on Rauluni, Hartley was then penalised at a ruck and Ross knocked over the penalty to make it 30-19.
Saints pushed hard bringing all their big guns on, but could find no way through Sarries and Ross finished the game with a penalty.
Att: 6,984
Saracens: Goode, Leonelli, Powell, Farrell, Cato, Ross, Rauluni, Lloyd, Cairns, Visagie, Borthwick, Chesney, Barrell, Saull, Skirving
Replacements: Walker, Mercey, Ryder, Seymour, Penney, Thrower
Saints: Foden, Ashton, Mayor, Mordt, Diggin, Myler, Dickson, Tonga'uiha, Shields, Stewart, Lord, Day, Lawes, Lewitt, Wilson.
Replacements: Hartley, Murray, Lobbe, Gray, Dickens, Spencer, Ansbro
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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