World record crowd see Sarries end Quins’ run

DEFIANT Saracens ruined Harlequins’ record-breaking Christmas party and ended their unbeaten start to the Aviva Premiership season with a ferocious defensive performance at sold-out Twickenham.

Owen Farrell kicked 14 points and David Strettle scored against his old club as Saracens raced into a 19-3 lead after just 24 minutes.

Harlequins attempted a comeback and prop Joe Marler scored in a dominant second-half performance from the hosts.

Saracens did not score another point but they defended resolutely to seal the victory in front of 82,000 supporters and close the gap on league leaders Harlequins to five points.

The extraordinary crowd was a world record for a regular-season club fixture, beating the 79,842 that watched Stade Francais v Clermont Auvergne in the French Top 14.

It was also the biggest crowd ever to watch a Premiership match, including any of the Grand Finals staged at Twickenham.

Meanwhile, London Irish finished the year in the Aviva Premiership play-off places after moving to third thanks a tough 29-22 win over Exeter at the Madejski Stadium.

Centres Joe Ansbro and Shontayne Hape grabbed Irish tries, while wing Tom Homer landed 19 points with five penalties and two conversions.

Exeter were always behind but managed a losing bonus point after Luke Arscott got a try in the second half while fly-half Ignacio Mieres kicked five penalties and a conversion.

England star Toby Flood ran the show as Leicester extended their unbeaten Aviva Premiership run to five games after brushing Worcester aside 32-13 at a sold-out Sixways.

The Tigers never looked back once they had built a 17-point lead early in the second quarter following tries by Flood and wing Matt Smith.

Fly-half Flood added another 12 points from the boot, while Leicester and England lock Louis Deacon sealed Tigers’ victory when he rumbled over for a 60th-minute try after wing Marcel Garvey’s touchdown briefly threatened a Worcester revival.

Wing Horacio Agulla then crossed a minute from time to secure a bonus point victory and leave Worcester to reflect on their heaviest league defeat of the season.