Falcons easy prey for Sarries

Short: Solo run made his own try

Saracens kept in touch with Aviva Premiership leaders Harlequins by claiming a comfortable 25-5 victory over Newcastle at Vicarage Road.

Joe Maddock, Alex Goode and James Short all crossed for tries while Charlie Hodgson booted another 10 points, with the Flacons' only scoring effort coming through Luke Fielden's 17th-minute try.

Despite their easy win, the reigning champions left the field with a tinge of regret at the final whistle after failing to convert their dominance into a fourth try and a bonus point, leaving them four points adrift of Quins.

Basement club Newcastle never threatened to challenge for a shock victory but mounted a spirited defence to keep the hosts out in the closing stages.

Sarries made the brighter start and took the lead on 15 minutes when Maddock collected a pass from Goode and crossed on the right following a series of quick phases.

Hodgson could not add the extras, however, and Newcastle responded two minutes later when Fielden managed to touch down despite being tackled before the line by Short.

Jimmy Gopperth also sent his conversion wide but Hodgson improved the match's kicking statistics when he put a 24th-minute penalty through the posts.

Penalty

Hodgson extended Saracens' lead with another penalty after referee Luke Pearce brought play back when Owen Farrell knocked on while advantage was being played for offside.

The hosts were now well on top and a sweeping cross-field passing move yielded a second try as Farrell's pass allowed Goode to cross in the left-hand corner on 36 minutes, with Hodgson adding the extras.

Gopperth then crashed a penalty against the post and the Falcons went into half-time trailing 18-5, with Sarries remaining in control of the contest after the interval.

The pressure told just five minutes into the second half as Short made a dazzling 80-metre burst that left three tacklers in his wake before he was finally halted.

The ball was recycled, though, and Brad Barritt fed the ball back to Short, who charged for the line and managed to ground the ball despite almost being held up.

It was a bitter blow for the visitors, who thought they had scored a try of their own shortly before when Ally Hogg went in after Joe Graham had charged down a kick, but the former's foot had strayed into touch.

Saracens poured on the pressure for the rest of the match as they chased the all-important bonus-point try, but Newcastle defended valiantly despite being resigned to the fact that they would be going home empty-handed.

Saracens repeatedly tried to drive in from close range but the Flacons held firm, with even a brilliant round-the-back pass from David Strettle being unable to unlock the rearguard.