Premiership: Saracens 25-3 Newcastle Falcons

Richard Barrington's first-half try from a pick and go came on the back of numerous Saracens phases

Saracens moved within a point of leaders Exeter Chiefs at the top of the Premiership with a three-try win against Newcastle Falcons.

Richard Barrington's score, a penalty try and 10 points from Ben Spencer's boot put Sarries 20-3 up at half-time, with Joel Hodgson's penalty in reply.

Falcons enjoyed good ball and chances to post points in the second half, but Saracens were resilient in defence.

Replacement Max Malins' late try ended any hopes of a visitors' comeback.

It was a solid and workmanlike performance that gave Saracens their fourth consecutive Premiership win, but the scoreline did not reflect the contribution that Newcastle made to the game.

Saracens enjoyed the majority of the possession in the first half and some patient phase play resulted in Barrington crossing with a powerful pick and go.

Alex Lozowski's deft chip created the penalty try, as Liam Williams was deemed to have been pushed by Sinoti Sinoti in the process of grounding, an incident that saw the Falcons winger sin-binned.

Nili Latu butchered a glorious chance for a Falcons try in a second half in which they fought bravely, but despite their impressive energy they produced too many unforced errors and penalties.

One of those errors was the catalyst for Malins' late try, who picked off a loose ball to seal the points.

Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall:

"It was a good workmanlike performance in very difficult conditions, in particular the first-half performance when we were playing into a very strong wind and it was pouring with rain

"Our set piece was on top, we carried the ball well and we went down there and scored a couple of tries.

"In conditions like that it is just about doing fundamental things well and our scrum and line-out was generally strong."

Newcastle director of rugby Dean Richards:

"It was a difficult afternoon, you're playing against a team that have lost a few players and have the ability to bring in a team of superstars.

"We found it difficult to compete with them on the day and the bit of stardust that they have probably shone through.

"We're a bit disappointed because ultimately our game-plan was not to give them that opportunity and to be playing in the right areas."

Saracens: Goode; Williams, Bosch, Barritt (capt), Wyles; Lozowski, Spencer; Barrington, Tolofua, Koch, Skelton, Isiekwe, Clark, Burger, Wray.

Replacements: Spurling, Thompson-Stringer, Figallo, Earl, Vailanu, Whiteley, Malins, Earle.

Newcastle: Hammersley; Goneva, Penny, J Socino, Sinoti; Hodgson, Young (capt); Vickers, Cooper, Wilson, Green, Witty, Burrows, Latu, Hogg.

Replacements: S Socino, Lockwood, Davison, Olmstead, Chick, Takulua, Mermoz, Tait.

Referee: Christophe Ridley.