Premiership: Saracens 38-15 Gloucester

David Strettle ran in his fourth Premiership try so far this season to start the scoring

Saracens maintained their perfect start to the Premiership season as they beat Gloucester in convincing fashion.

Sean Maitland set up David Strettle to go over in the corner and Maro Itoje grounded Owen Farrell's high kick to put Sarries two tries ahead.

Itoje went over for his second before half-time, with Billy Twelvetrees' penalty all Gloucester could manage.

Maitland and Alex Lozowski added to the lead, before Mark Atkinson and Charlie Sharples went over for the visitors.

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Gloucester came into the game in good form, having taken two wins and a draw from their first three games, though they never looked like getting back into the game after Strettle's early try.

Sarries celebrated scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth's Premiership record appearance in suitable fashion as they dominated in all phases.

Owen Farrell was perfect with the boot on his return from injury, though his kick to set up Itoje's first try was somewhat fortunate, the ball deflecting into the scorer's path off the crossbar.

Opposite number Danny Cipriani was unable to make a similar impact on the game, having been overlooked for the England squad earlier this week.

Saracens have won their past 11 Premiership matches dating back to March of last season, scoring four or more tries in each of their past 10.

They are one point above last season's beaten finalists Exeter at the top of the table, while Gloucester stay fifth.

Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall:

"Owen Farrell was incredibly influential. It wasn't just his skill set, it was the physical tone he set. Physically he was incredible.

"If you listen to the ref mic, vocally he was off the charts. He's just an incredible player who adds in every way.

"Not just in his kicking and passing, but emotionally and physically as well. He threw himself into contact."

Gloucester head coach Johan Ackermann told BBC Radio Gloucestershire:

"I think we're constantly learning lessons from Saracens, we don't take that too much to heart.

"Firstly, we should congratulate Saracens for how ruthless they were when in our 22, they rarely give up the ball until they get points.

"Secondly, we need to look at our performance. We lacked that accuracy and skill, there were some loose passes, we lost the ball in turnovers and a lot of knock-ons from spilling the ball.

"There was always a mistake creeping in. So there's lots of lessons for us in terms of managing the game."

Saracens: Williams; Strettle, Tompkins, Barritt (capt), Maitland; Farrell, Wigglesworth; M Vunipola, George, Koch, Kruis, Skelton, Itoje, Rhodes, Earl.

Replacements: Tolofua, Barrington, Lamositele, Isiekwe, Burger, Spencer, Lozowski, Goode.

Gloucester: Woodward; Sharples, Trinder, Twelvetrees, Banahan; Cipriani, Braley; Hohneck, Marais, Balmain, Slater (capt), Grobler, Polledri, Ludlow, Ackermann.

Replacements: Hanson, Seville, Knight, Clarke, Morgan, Vellacott, Atkinson, Hudson.

Referee: Christophe Ridley (RFU).