Saracens beat London Irish in first Premiership game played abroad
By Rory O'Callaghan
Last Updated: 13/03/16 12:17am
Saracens recorded a hard-fought 26-16 victory over London Irish in an historic encounter at the New York Red Bull Arena on Saturday.
Sarries fly-half Alex Goode scored 16 points, in what was the first Premiership match to be played outside the UK, to help Mark McCall's side return to the top of the table, with the official attendance given as 14,811.
However, it was the Exiles who started the game the stronger of the two teams and deservedly went ahead through the boot of Greig Tonks, after referee Luke Pearce awarded a penalty to the 'home side'.
Sarries responded well and took the lead when Alex Goode shrugged off two tackles to go over for the first try. Stand-in kicker Ben Spencer made no mistake with the conversion.
Former Leicester Tigers winger Alex Lewington hit back for the Exiles with a well-worked try and Tonks added the extras to restore his side's three-point advantage.
The South African-born Scot kicked another penalty to extend the scoreline to 13-7.
Goode, who was released from the England squad earlier this week, responded with three penalties of his own to edge Sarries into a slender three-point lead.
Tonks and Goode then traded another set of penalties heading into the game's final 10 minutes.
The Exiles continued to push for a match-levelling score but it was Saracens' young centre, Nick Thompkins, who settled the game - charging down a Darren Allinson kick to cross over for the winning try.
London Irish remain firmly rooted to the foot of the Premiership table following the defeat in New Jersey, whilst Saracens move two points clear of the Exeter Chiefs at the top.
