Sarries move into second spot as Exiles continue to struggle

SARACENS kept the pressure on the Aviva Premiership leaders yesterday, inflicting another defeat on struggling London Irish.

This encounter was decided by the boot, with Sarries fly-half Owen Farrell kicking four penalties and Chris Malone responding with two of his own.

The win moves Saracens above Northampton and into second place, but Irish, without a win since October 31, are now down to seventh with their hopes of a play-off place fading fast.

Gavin Henson made another appearance off the bench for the hosts, while Exiles’ coach Toby Booth insists his side are not too far away from ending their run.

“Teams like Toulouse, Munster, Leinster and Stade Francais don’t change the way they play, and nor will we. We play with ball in hand, and that will inevitably lead to errors,” he said.

SARACENS: Goode; Strettle, Tagicakibau, Barritt, Short; Farrell, Wigglesworth; Carstens, Brits, Nieto; Borthwick, Botha; Burger, Saull, K. Brown.

Replacements: Henson for Barritt (75), Gill for Carstens (51), George for Brits (68), Du Plessis for Nieto (62), Vyvyan for Botha (51), Joubert for K. Brown (62).

LONDON IRISH: Malone; Ojo, Seveali’i, Mapusua, Tagicakibau; Bowden, Hodgson; Corbisiero, Buckland, Rautenbach; Kennedy, Garvey; Thorpe, S. Armitage, Stowers.

Replacements: Lamb for Bowden (64), Allinson for Hodgson (62), Dermody for Corbisiero (68), Ion for Rautenbach (62), Hala’ufia for Stowers (62). Not Used: Blaney, Casey, Thompstone.