Dream debut for Tomkins

Joel Tomkins: Two tries on debut

Joel Tomkins scored two tries on his Saracens debut as a dominant second-half performance saw the hosts secure a 41-14 LV= Cup win over Worcester at Vicarage Road.

However, the result is not enough to keep the club's hopes in the competition alive as Bath continue to control things at the top of Pool One.

Tomkins, making his first appearance since switching from rugby league, crossed twice after the break and Nils Mordt kicked 16 points as Sarries, who had been trailing for 55 minutes, turned the tables on the visitors.

A Saracens line-up that combined World Cup-winning captain John Smit, Heineken Cup winning scrum-half Peter Stringer with a number of younger prospects, struggled to click in the early stages.

Worcester took the lead in the fourth minute when two drives caught Saracens loose in their 22, and flnaker Sam Betty emerged behind the home defence and dived over, with Joe Carlisle adding the conversion

Stringer was involved twice as Saracens launched their first serious attack and the Warriors were forced to offend on their line to prevent a try, leaving Mordt to kick the penalty.

Attack

The South African fly-half struck again five minutes later as another Saracens attack was halted when Worcester were penalised for offside, and Mordt's close-range goal reduced the deficit to one point.

However, Tom Arscott quickly increased the gap on 16 minutes, cleverly gathering a bouncing ball out on the right before racing ahead and holding off Michael Tagicakibau for a score which was converted by Carlisle.

Tomkins looked eager to be involved on his first-team debut, but most of his early duties consisted of defence and support as the centre saw little ball during the opening quarter.

Saracens scored their first try of the match in the 25th minute when Mordt kicked a penalty to touch, Jamie George's throw to the back was caught and thrown down by Eoin Sherriff and from the drive, Stringer grabbed the ball from the back and sped over the try-line.

Mordt kicked the extra points to ensure that the defending Aviva Premiership champions were just 14-13 behind at the half-time break.

Miss

Mordt missed a penalty that would have put the home side ahead in the 55th minute but Saracens continued to press and eventually Worcester cracked.

Stringer's pass sent James Cleverly driving for the line, and when he was stopped the ball reached Justin Melck who touched down for the score, with Mordt kicking the conversion.

Tomkins scored his first try in Sarries colours on 61 minutes when he intercepted a pass from Danny Gray before speeding clear of the cover to score under the posts.

Just as the cheers had died down, Jackson Wray linked superbly with Tomkins on the left, sending the debutant racing in for his second try in the 65th minute, with Mordt's conversion bouncing in off the near upright.

Jamie George then crossed the line with four minutes remaining to complete the scoring.