Saracens score first leg victory

Saracens 19 Brive 6

Saracens will travel to France next weekend confident they can book their passage into the semi-finals of the European Challenge Cup after a convincing quarter-final first leg 19-6 win over Brive.

By no means were the Watford side in scintillating form but right from the first whistle Saracens had control of the rain-soaked game.

Fly-half Nicky Little put the building blocks in place for the home side as they galloped into a 13-0 lead by half-time.

The Fijian first added a drop-goal and then a penalty but the real break for Saracens came when full-back Mark Bartholomeusz darted through Brive’s defence to open up a ferocious Saracens attack.

Bartholomeusz was brought to the ground before the line but hooker Matt Cairns was in support to set up super sub Paul Bailey over on the right wing.

Little duly converted, adding the conversion, and with Brive winger Julien Laharrague missing his first kick at goal Saracens found themselves in a comfortable position.

Little continued where he left off after the break with a second penalty but Brive’s blushes were saved when Laharrague finally found the target with 55th and 71st-minute penalties.

However, a third converted penalty maintained Little’s 100% strike rate to send Saracens into the return leg of the quarter-final clash at the Parc Municipal Des Sport next Sunday in high spirits.