Premiership: Saracens 49-10 Leicester
- Published
Saracens stayed top of the Premiership with a crushing six-try bonus-point victory over Leicester in rainy and windswept conditions at Allianz Park.
Jack Wilson went over in the corner for the hosts after a blistering start that set the tone for a dominant display.
Graham Kitchener's charge-down try gave Tigers hope, but Chris Ashton's score put Sarries 18-10 ahead at the break.
And tries from Billy Vunipola, Ashton, Jack Wray and a penalty try sealed Leicester's heaviest Premiership loss.
A worrying late injury to England fly-half Owen Farrell threatened to overshadow the win.
Farrell was taken off the pitch on a stretcher with his neck in a brace when he was knocked unconscious following an accidental collision with Vereniki Goneva.
But Farrell was soon up and about and able to watch from the sidelines as Saracens scored at will in the closing stages.
The conclusive margin of victory seemed unlikely as Leicester battled both the grim conditions and a mightily impressive home effort to stay in touch before the interval.
Wilson's early try was typical of a Sarries performance full of pace and intensity and a willingness to play quick ball.
But Tigers, who have confirmed that England fly-half Toby Flood will be leaving in the summer, still seemed to be well in the game, despite being outplayed and battling against the wind, when Kitchener charged down Farrell's kick and went over between the posts.
That score, along with Ryan Lamb's conversion and earlier penalty, put the visitors within three points of the hosts, but his yellow card for a tackle on Farrell allowed Sarries to get on top.
Ashton crossed to establish an 18-10 lead at the break after a delay to see if there had been a forward pass in the build up, and Sarries cruised to victory in a one-sided second period.
Vunipola bundled over for the home side's third try soon after the restart as they made full use of their man advantage.
Tigers responded and, with their wind at their backs, they started to boss territory.
But, despite Farrell's exit, Sarries secured a bonus-point when a brilliant run by replacement Neil de Kock saw him dance through the Tigers defence and find Wray who went over from close in.
Vunipola was then instrumental in forcing a penalty try and Sarries completed a miserable afternoon for Tigers when de Kock found Ashton with a clever inside pass and the England wing went over in the corner.
Farrell's replacement, Charlie Hodgson, added his third conversion to add to the 13 points Farrell had kicked to round off a fine afternoon for the home side.
SATURDAY'S LINE-UPS
Saracens: Goode; Ashton, Streather, Wyles, Wilson; Farrell, Wigglesworth; Barrington, George, Stevens; Borthwick (capt), Hargreaves; B. Vunipola, Brown, Joubert.
Replacements: Ransom for Goode (69), Hodgson for Farrell (66), de Kock for Wigglesworth (53), M. Vunipola for Barrington (41), Johnston for Stevens (53), Kruis for Hargreaves (56), Wray for Joubert (66).
Not Used: Brits.
Leicester: Tait; Morris, Goneva, Smith, Benjamin; Lamb, B. Youngs; Stankovich, Briggs, Balmain; Slater, Kitchener; Gibson, Matera, Crane (capt).
Replacements: Hepetema for Smith (41), Mele for B. Youngs (65), Ayerza for Stankovich (45), Schuster for Briggs (45), T. Youngs for Balmain (45), De Chaves for Kitchener (74), Waldrom for Matera (53), Thompstone for Hepetema (46).
Sin Bin: Kitchener (38), Waldrom (70).
Att: 9,999
Ref: Wayne Barnes (RFU).
- Published8 December 2013
- Published7 December 2013
- Published5 September 2013
- Published15 February 2019
- Published14 September 2016