Sarries leave it late

Saracens' best start to a league campaign in some nine seasons has gathered further momentum - but they left it late in recording a 24-20 victory against London Irish at Vicarage Road.

New Zealand-born Glen Jackson - who is on the verge of qualifying for England on residency grounds - was the architect of their late success after coming on as a second-half replacement for Gordon Ross.

In a match in which the lead changed no fewer than six times, the decisive shift came with three minutes remaining when, opting against kicking a simple penalty in front of the posts, Jackson instead kicked towards Richard Haughton on the right wing.

Haughton did the rest, with Saracens holding on to record their fifth Guinness Premiership victory of the season.

Irish had won five of their six previous visits to Watford and certainly looked capable at times of extending their record - particularly in the generally error-strewn opening period.

They also recorded the opening try of the match, which was touched down in the eighth minute by Delon Armitage after hooker David Paice's drive for the line was stopped a metre short.

The ball was recycled quickly and Peter Richards popped the ball to Armitage running on a direct line to crash over.

Difficult

Sarries were finding it difficult to even breach their opponents' 22 at this stage; nevertheless, they were kept in touch by Ross, who pulled points back with a drop-goal before handing them the lead with a 40-metre penalty midway through the first half.

Another Ross penalty edged Saracens even further ahead, although a prompt response from Armitage pegged them back again - the centre taking over kicking responsibilities from Peter Hewat, who had earlier failed to convert his team-mate's try and who was also struggling to recover from some big hits.

After Kris Chesney pulled off the blindside of a scrum too early, Saracens offered the Exiles another chance for three points. Armitage spurned it, but made amends with another effort moments later which once more placed them ahead.

Sarries were back in front early in the second half, when, with Jackson on for Ross, the former's drop kick found its target.

Nip-and-tuck

And the game of nip-and-tuck continued when, restored to his kicking duties, Hewat edged Irish back in front after David Seymour was penalised.

But Saracens hit back with their first try of the afternoon - Haughton making an incisive run before being tackled some 10 metres short. Quick ball then fed Adam Powell - in for rested England centre Andy Farrell - and he proceeded to touch down from close range.

Jackson kicked the extras to place the home side five points ahead. But Irish were not giving up without a struggle and Hewat reduced the arrears once more with another penalty.

Pushing for the win, Irish came forward and, after peeling off the scrum, number eight Phil Murphy fell inches short of the line. A drop-goal attempt from Hewat was then sliced, before a long-range effort from Armitage - who scored 14 points in all - placed his side one point ahead with 10 minutes left.

But there was still a sting in the tail and it came when Irish conceded a penalty right in front of their own posts - Jackson forgoing the easier option and setting up Haughton instead.