Sarries survive late scare
Saracens survived a dramatic late assault to send the majority of the 44,832 Wembley crowd home happy.
Last Updated: 12/09/09 5:22pm
Saracens survived a dramatic late assault to send the majority of the 44,832 Wembley crowd home happy and maintain their unbeaten start to the Guinness Premiership campaign.
On the first of four planned visits to the home of football this season, Sarries produced a disjointed display before the break as two penalties and a drop goal from Glen Jackson gave them a 9-3 lead.
Neither side threatened the try-line and although play opened up in the second-half, Northampton were equally lacking ideas until a frantic finale threatened to upset the applecart.
By the end of the first quarter Sarries' forwards had taken control, allowing Jackson to drop them into the lead.
Shane Geraghty replied in similar fashion to reward a good spell from Saints, but the hosts were soon back in front when Scott Gray shoulder-checked Schalk Brits at the restart that could see the flanker cited.
Jackson obliged with the three before Paul Diggin then blocked Alex Goode after the full-back chipped ahead, and Sarries were given the penalty with Jackson on target again.
The decisive score came soon after the break, when Dylan Hartley fumbled under pressure from Noah Cato, who picked up the ball and charged three-quarters of the field to score.
However, just two minutes later Saints were back in contention when Jon Clarke barged over and Geraghty added the two after the fly-half had set up the move with a delayed pass to Phil Dowson.
Jackson and Geraghty exchanged penalties as Saracens led 19-13, but the Saints newcomer narrowed the deficit once more to set up a tense closing 10 minutes.
Brits was sin-binned for killing the ball but Geraghty uncharacteristically missed the attempt at goal but there was further drama when prop Soane Tonga'uiha wriggled over with two minutes to go, only to see the score ruled out by the TV referee for a knock on.
