Sparkling Sarries run riot

Saracens ran in seven tries to thrash Newcastle 58-15 and cement their place in the top four of the Guinness Premiership.

The crushing victory earned Sarries a bonus point for the first time this season and opened up a seven-point gap on fifth-placed Wasps.

But the result pushed the fourth-from-bottom Falcons - who have been drawn slowly but surely into the relegation dogfight - closer to the drop zone.

Having decided to play four 'home' games at Wembley Stadium this season, the visit of Newcastle represented the final Vicarage Road fixture for Saracens, unless they finish in the top two and secure a home play-off semi-final.

Stunning display

That could well be the case if Brendan Venter's side can replicate this display in the remaining weeks of the regular season.

The victory was a welcome return to form for the hosts, who had lost five out of the last six league fixtures to drop from top to third in the table.

However it was the visitors who took an early lead when fly-half Jimmy Gopperth scrambled over a scruffy drop-goal in the third minute.

Gopperth's second score three minutes later was far more impressive, a huge penalty going over from the half-way line after Sarries were penalised at a scrum.

But the home side were back in the game within 60 seconds thanks to a fine solo try from Schalk Brits.

The hooker surged towards the Newcastle posts and either handed-off or sidestepped four opponents before diving over the line, with Glen Jackson converting the extras.

Gopperth was then on target with a penalty on 11 minutes to restore the visitors' lead but their advantage was again short-lived as Jackson replied in kind with a well-struck kick from wide out on the left.

And the home supporters, so often served up pragmatic rugby this season, were treated to a second try soon afterwards.

Running at pace, Adam Powell shrugged off a tepid tackle by Gcobani Bobo before off-loading the perfect pass to his right where Brits was again to be found thundering for the line.

Gopperth did keep the visitors in the game with another well-struck goal, though the Falcons were fortunate not to be well adrift after a quarter of the contest as Jackson had missed three penalties in a 10-minute period.

Having been forced into touch inches from the line in the previous play, Andy Saull barged his way over between the posts in the 37th minute, with Jackson converting.

Daunting task

The Saracens fly-half also added a penalty in the final minute of the half, leaving Newcastle with a daunting task in the second period.

Gopperth reduced the arrears by three in the 50th minute but Jackson fired over his sixth successful kick to cancel out Newcastle's three points.

Noah Cato then crushed the visitors on the hour, breaking clear on to a loose ball from inside his own half and holding off four challenges to score.

Jackson converted that effort and another six minutes later when captain Ernest Joubert intercepted a loose pass from Micky Young and galloped clear.

Replacement wing Richard Haughton exposed Newcastle's pourous defence further with a run up the right that ended with him diving over the try-line. Joubert completed the rout with his second try in injury-time.