Sarries stun French leaders

Saracens stunned Top 14 leaders Castres 23-9 in their Amlin Challenge Cup tie after engineering a fine comeback at the Stade Pierre Antoine on Friday night.

After going into the half-time interval 9-3 behind, the Guinness Premiership leaders kept their French counterparts scoreless in the second 40 minutes.

Sarries found their firepower from the replacements bench as Andy Saull and Schalk Brits both scored tries as substitutes to hand the visitors a vital win in Poor Three.

Castres, the surprise leaders of the Top 14 in France, dominated the first half after taking an early lead through full-back Thomas Bouquie in the fifth minute.

Saracens equalised after 13 minutes through Glen Jackson's drop-goal, but spent the next 10 minutes camped in their own half as Castres were twice held up over the try line.

Sin-bin

Bouquie added two more penalties after Justin Melck was sin-binned to establish a half-time lead, but again Jackson levelled with two early kicks at the start of the second half.

Saracens were under pressure in the scrum but found success at the lineout from which the game's opening try came. A strong drive saw hooker Brits go close before Saull drove over from close range.

Steve Borthwick's side wrapped up victory nine minutes from time with their second try when Brits intercepted Alexandre Albouy's long pass to score under the posts.

Saracens moved up to second in the pool behind Toulon, who recorded their biggest victory in Europe with a 73-3 annihilation of Italians Rugby Rovigo.

Fijian wing Gabi Lovobalavu crossed four times, including the first and last of the French team's 11 tries at Stade Felix Mayol, while fellow wing Sinoti Sinoti also scored twice and Felipe Contepomi added five conversions.

Montpellier moved ahead of Worcester and Connacht in Pool Two with a comfortable 57-24 win over Olympus Rugby XV Madrid.

Full-back Benjamin Thiery scored 13 points as the Frenchmen ran in eight tries, while Cesar Sempere bagged 14 points, more than Madrid had managed in their previous two outings in the pool.