Irish claim five in a row

London Irish moved a step closer to clinching a play-off berth with a nailbiting victory over Saracens, their fifth successive win.

Tries from Sailosi Tagicakibau and Gonzalo Tiesi helped condemn Sarries to a fifth defeat in seven games, although they could have snatched a draw. Returning fly-half Glen Jackson had the chance to level but missed a last-minute penalty.

Irish number 15 Peter Hewat was in fine form with the boot, kicking 17 points, while Ben Skirving and Kameli Ratuvou crossed for the visitors.

After an opening five minutes dominated by Saracens, Jackson kicked the first points in the seventh minute with a 30-metre penalty from in front of the posts.

Penalties

Back came Irish to take the lead on 14 minutes with two penalties before Sarries were reduced to 14 men in the 26th minute when lock Kris Chesney was sin-binned for diving over at the breakdown.

Hewat kicked another penalty to take Irish six points clear only to be pegged back after Jackson slotted his second penalty in the 30th minute.

Irish doubled the lead three minutes later when Hewat kicked a penalty from 20 metres after Saracens second-rower Hugh Vyvyan was penalised for hands in the ruck.

But a Skirving try two minutes before the break was converted by Jackson, meaning Sarries took a one-point lead into the interval against the run of play.

Sarries top scorer Jackson extended his side's lead with another three points in the 49th minute after the New Zealander had missed a kick minutes earlier.

But London Irish regained the lead in the 54th minute after winger Topsy Ojo broke through the Sarries back line before offloading to Tagicakibau and the 24-year-old went over for his first of the season.

Breakaway

Another breakaway try four minutes later from Tiesi kept the Exiles in front but Jackson reduced the deficit to five points when he converted another penalty to hint at a Sarries comeback.

But the home side fought back and Hewat extended Irish's lead by taking his personal tally to 17 points.

Ratuvou went over in the 74th minute to get Sarries to within three points, only for Jackson's late miss to condemn the Watford side to a third straight defeat.