Sarries hold off Harlequins
Harlequins missed out on a top-six finish in the Aviva Premiership as they went down 16-13 to play-off bound Saracens.
By Rob Lancaster
Last Updated: 07/05/11 5:44pm
Harlequins missed out on a top-six finish in the Aviva Premiership as they went down 16-13 at home to play-off bound Saracens.
Owen Farrell scored 10 points, including Sarries' only try, at the Twickenham Stoop as the in-form visitors - who were already certain of a home semi-final before kick-off - made it 11 straight wins in all competitions.
To keep their streak alive they had to weather an early storm from Amlin Challenge Cup finalists Quins, who had beaten Munster last time out.
But, although Chris Robshaw did cross late on, Quins were unable to end their league campaign on a winning note, meaning they will now have to rely on European results going in their favour to qualify for the Heineken Cup.
Attacking intent
They had launched wave after wave of attacks in the opening quarter but, unlike in Limerick seven days ago, were unable to find a way through to the line.
Rory Clegg - filling in for the injured Nick Evans at fly-half - missed a penalty attempt in the 10th minute to give Quins a three-point lead, one they would have richly deserved after such a sustained period of dominance.
Instead, though, it was Sarries who broke the deadlock when they stopped tackling for long enough to win a penalty that Alex Goode knocked over.
An offside decision right in front of the uprights allowed the full-back to make it 6-0, though he did miss two further attempts at the posts before the break.
His failures allowed Clegg to kick the hosts level at 6-6 by the end of a half that had seen David Strettle come the closest to crossing when he came within a metre of catching up with Farrell's kick into space on the right.
However, a try finally arrived 11 minutes after the re-start - and straight after Quins looked to have escaped unscathed on their own line.
Turnover
Sarries failed to make the most of an attacking scrum from five metres out but, just as their chance looked to have been and gone, they forced a turnover on their opponents' put-in.
The ball was quickly worked out from the base to Farrell, who had the power to force his way over from close range for a score that he also converted.
A penalty from the number 10 opened up a 10-point gap with just 20 minutes to play and with their pack firmly on top, Saracens looked home and dry.
In the end though they had to cling on, Jacques Burger's sin-binning for not releasing in the 75th minute giving Quins late hope that they could still yet force their way into the top six at London Irish's expense.
The failure of the officials to spot Danny Care's block on David Strettle, as well as a forward pass from Mike Brown, allowed Robshaw to rumble over, though it was too little, too late.
Quins will instead have to try and beat Stade Francais, or hope Northampton win the Heineken Cup, to be in Europe's elite club competition next year. Saracens are already certain to be there, though their focus is still firmly on this season - they have a home semi-final against Gloucester up next.
