Saracens 27-17 Saints: Sarries overpower Saints at Allianz Park
By PA Sport
Last Updated: 17/09/16 6:20pm
Reigning Premiership champions Saracens preserved their 100 per cent record this season after hooker Jamie George's second-half try helped them see off Northampton 27-12 at Allianz Park.
England international George struck midway through the second period, which was followed by a penalty try, although Saracens were nowhere near as dominant as they had been during opening two rounds.
Fly-half Alex Lozowski added five penalties and a conversion, with Saracens crucially scoring 12 unanswered points while Northampton prop Alex Waller was in the sin-bin.
England head coach Eddie Jones was among the crowd, but a scrappy opening quarter delivered few attacking opportunities. Instead two Lozowski penalties edged Saracens 6-3 ahead after Myler put Saints in front early on.
Northampton's powerful runners Louis Picamoles and George North both made headway as did not take a backward step and another Myler penalty tied things up.
Saracens, despite having a gusting wind in their favour, struggled for continuity, and the kicking contest continued as Myler and Lozowski exchanged further penalties before the break, completing their respective penalty hat-tricks and securing a 9-9 interval scoreline.
Northampton continued to play the game deep inside Saracens' territory, and Myler's fourth successful penalty edged the visitors back in front after home scrum half Richard Wiggelsworth was penalised.
Saracens could not get a foothold in the contest, and their frustration began to show, but Saints were reduced to 14 men when Waller was adjudged to have tackled George dangerously and received a yellow card.
Waller had barely left the pitch than Saracens went ahead, making their temporary numerical advantage count via a smart lineout move that saw number eight Billy Vunipola send an unmarked George over to leave Northampton two points behind.
Northampton suddenly could not stem the tide, and when Saints collapsed a 66th-minute maul, Garner awarded a penalty try that Lozowski converted to set up a third successive Premiership victory, before Saints replacement Sam Dickinson was sin-binned for a technical offence.
Saints' miserable second half continued right to the end, with centre Luther Burelll groggily leaving the field after a lengthy delay while he received treatment following a midfield collision with Saracens skipper Brad Barritt.
Lozowski, meanwhile, added two more penalties, meaning that he finished with 17 points as he continued to prove an admirable deputy for Farrell.
