Half-time: Saints trailing but it's all to play for
Saints go into half-time 21-16 down but are well in this EDF Energy Cup clash at Vicarage Road.
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 an off-colour boot of Stephen Myler meant Gordon Ross's kicking kept Sarries ahead.
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.
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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