Saracens gambles pay off

Saracens made it two wins on the bounce in six days on home soil after beating Northampton 26-12 at Vicarage Road.

The hosts won after electing to tap two simple penalty kicks which led to tries for Rodd Penney and Michael Owen.

It was no more than the they deserved after dominating possession in both-halves, although the visitors had gone in at half-time 6-3 up.

Saracens made the brighter start but Glen Jackson put an early penalty wide from 35 metres and then missed an even easier kick on 11 minutes.

The hosts were made to pay as Stephen Myler converted a penalty for the Saints after the ball was taken from Lee Dickson's hands.

Expertly tackled

Moments earlier, Scott Gray had almost caught Saracens on the break but was expertly tackled by Neil de Kock.

But Jackson drew the hosts level when finally making a successful kick from almost the halfway line, before Myler put the visitors back in front with another penalty.

Joe Ansbro almost scored a try right on the stroke of half-time after a slick passing move cut Saracens wide open, but Dickson was adjudged to have made a forward pass.

Soon after the break, Myler kicked the Saints further ahead after the hosts were penalised for playing the ball on the ground.

Penney almost got through on 52 minutes following a short pass from Jackson but he was caught by Roger Wilson.

Drop goal

But Saracens cut the Saints' lead to just three points via Jackson's boot, before Myler hit a fantastic drop goal to re-establish the cushion.

Jackson added another penalty before Ben Foden was sin-binned for killing the ball as Sarries pressed.

The hosts elected not to take the penalty kick and the gamble paid off as Penney went over in the right corner on 66 minutes following a great long pass from Jackson, who also added the extras.

Dylan Hartley was then sin-binned for also killing the ball to reduce the visitors to just 13 men.

Saracens again elected to tap the ball and were rewarded as Michael Owen touched over on 72 minutes after the pack had surged forward to just five metres out, with the extras added by Jackson.

Gordon Ross then kicked another penalty late on to complete the home team's victory.