Aviva Premiership: Saracens underline ambitions with 39-0 rout of Harlequins at The Stoop

Saracens extended their hex over capital rivals Harlequins with an astonishing 39-0 rout in a night of high drama at The Stoop on Friday.

It was an 11th win in the last 12 league meetings for the visitors as Mark McCall’s Sarries underlined their title ambitions with a comprehensive victory against a worryingly error-strewn Harlequins side, who suffered their heaviest defeat on home soil in four-and-a-half years.

Charlie Hodgson gave the visitors a 16-0 lead at the interval, kicking three penalties and scoring the lone try of the first period.

Despite twice being gifted a numerical advantage, Harlequins were unable to fight their way back into the match; instead the hosts were made to pay the full price as Chris Ashton and Will Fraser added a gloss to an impressive warning salvo from Saracens.

Tipped by many as champions elect following their extra-time heartache at Twickenham in May, Saracens underlined their credentials with an emphatic display of power and efficiency which left an off-colour Harlequins side thoroughly exposed.

Sarries, who have now won on six of their last eight visits to The Stoop, seized the initiative from the off, with their forward pack gaining the upper hand in a series of early scrums.

Hodgson converted their dominance at the set-piece into points on the board, slotting two penalty kicks and the former England fly-half claimed the first try of the match with an excellent show of ingenuity.

Charge down

In a move which epitomised the pressure Saracens applied early on, Hodgson charged down a kick from his opposite number, Nick Evans, before storming under the posts to leave himself a simple kick.

Saracens’ advantage would have been more had it not been for a phenomenal try-saving tackle from England full-back Mike Brown which denied Duncan Taylor after Chris Ashton exposed a gap on the right flank.

Harlequins, led by talismanic No 8 Nick Easter on his 150th Premiership appearance, wrestled some momentum in the lead up to half time, though they were left to lament two squandered penalties.

Joe Marler, who assumed the Quins’ captaincy from England skipper Chris Robshaw ahead of the new season, opted to kick for touch on both occasion, a ploy which proved fruitless as the host returned to the changing room with a 16-point deficit.

After a stirring half-time intervention from director of rugby Conor O’Shea, Harlequins returned rejuvenated and were handed a numerical advantage when Hodgson deliberately knocked on, earning himself a 10-minute stay in the sin bin.

Opportunity knocks

Still, Quins were unable to get points chalked on the scoreboard as Ben Botica - thrust into action at the break as a replacement for former All Black Evans – saw his penalty ricochet off the upright.

With Hodgson temporarily sidelined, full-back Alex Goode extended the Saracens advantage with a third three-pointer as the Harlequins pack continued to succumb to the constant bullying from the visitors.

Hodgson returned and was immediately replaced in the sin bin by Saracens captain Alistair Hargreaves as tempers started to flare.

Despite their personnel deficiency Saracens mustered an astounding goal-line stand to repel six Quins drives before forcing a turnover.

Saracens quickly regained the momentum and Hodgson took his personal tally to 19 points from the kicking tee, before slotting his fourth penalty of the night as Harlequins were reduced to 14 men with replacement hooker Rob Buchanan yellow carded.

Ashton, eager to catch the attention of England head Stuart Lancaster as speculation over an international recall lingers, scorched beyond Marland Yarde to touch down a loose ball as the Quins defence was left in disarray.

Fitting it was that the Saracens pack had the final say having dominated throughout, a juggernaut drive from the forwards guiding Fraser over the whitewash.

As replacement Owen Farrell – the England fly-half continuing his comeback from injury - slotted the conversion, the disgusted Harlequins fans started to desert en masse.