Aviva Premiership: Newcastle 3-38 Saracens
Last Updated: 07/12/15 12:37am
Charlie Hodgson scored 21 points to inspire Saracens to a 38-3 win over the Falcons in the Aviva Premiership on Sunday.
Samu Vunisa, centre Nick Tompkins and Billy Vunipola each scored a try for the visitors while man-of-the-match Hodgson offered a try, four penalties and two conversions.
Though the scoreline suggests an easy win for Mark McCall's men, they were forced into a battle with Newcastle as kicking out of hand dominated the majority of the first half. The men in black then scored two tries at the death, with Vunipola's coming in the final play of the game to earn the bonus point.
The win reinstates Saracens at the top of the Premiership table, while the Falcons remain in 11th placed in the standings.
Saracens opened the scoring with an attacking line-out from which a driving maul ended with Vunisa dotting down for the visitors in what was his first start for the club.
Skipper Jamie George opted to go for poles when a no-arms tackle in the opposition 22 resulted in a penalty, and Charlie Hodgson handed his side a 10-point lead with the kick.
The TMO then spotted an illegal clear-out from Saracens during a ruck which allowed Tom Catterick to get his side on the board from the tee, but Calum Green conceded a penalty at the maul with no time left on the clock in the half to give Saracens a 13-3 lead at the break.
Hodgson waited until the 55th minute to add to the Saracens scoreline with his boot, but the game was taken away from Newcastle when a break from the visitors led to Tompkins crashing over from close quarters after collecting the ball at the base of a ruck.
Hodgson sent the conversion in off the upright for a 23-3 lead to Saracens.
The fly-half stepped up to add three more points with the boot in the 76th minute before he latched onto a loose pass to race home for try near the corner. He rushed and missed the conversion but there was still enough time for one more play.
Showing all their impressive composure, Saracens held out to break up the field before being awarded a penalty five metres from the opposition line. Vunipola tapped and went quickly to crash over for the bonus-point try with no time on the clock in a clinical finish to the game for the defending champions.
