Saracens 19-10 Harlequins: Saracens beat Premiership champions in driving wind and rain

Sean Maitland scored Saracens' second try against Harlequins in testing conditions at the StoneX Stadium

Saracens overcame strong winds and driving rain to beat Premiership champions Harlequins 19-10.

Tom Woolstencroft and Sean Maitland tries for Saracens and a converted Danny Care try and Tommy Allan penalty made the score level at half-time.

But three penalties in the second half from Saracens centre Alex Lozowski were enough to seal a season double for the hosts against their London rivals.

Saracens stay second in the table while Quins remain in fourth.

• Premiership table

The home side stamped their authority in the scrum from the off, winning an early penalty and kicking into the corner.

Hooker Woolstencroft got the ball back from the resulting line-out and Sarries drove the Quins defence back for him to dive over the line for his fifth try in as many matches, having scored two very similar against Bath last week.

Saracens then wasted a glorious chance to extend their lead, with Dom Morris charging through and failing to pass out to the wing for the finish, as they dominated the ball in the strengthening wind.

Harlequins finally found some meaningful possession and scrum-half Care's feint pass and darting run behind the Saracens defence levelled the score against the run of play.

The hosts again capitalised on a line-out deep into Harlequins' territory, working the ball quickly from the left across to the right - Alex Goode putting winger Maitland in to score in the right corner.

Despite Sarries dominating the ball and the scrum, a late Allan penalty levelled the score just before half-time against the odds.

Though the heavy rain subsided, the wind remained strong and Saracens used it to their advantage in the second half.

Lozowski took advantage of two penalties they won in the scrum to kick between the posts with the wind this time behind the ball.

Harlequins took the momentum into the last 10 minutes, knowing a converted try would be enough to regain the lead.

But the powerful Sarries scrum destroyed all hope as they again won a penalty, which Lozowski converted to seal the win and deprive their rivals of an important losing-bonus point.

Quins have now lost three games in a row and will be looking over their shoulders, with next weekend's opponents Wasps just one point behind in fifth place.

Saracens head coach Joe Shaw:

"The conditions made it very difficult and prevented us from being more accurate.

"They are a team who aren't going to go away and we showed great energy and a phenomenal defence to keep them out for a sustained period in that second half."

Harlequins senior coach Tabai Matson:

"We knew only our best would be good enough and evidently we weren't at that level although we showed a lot of grit.

"We had a bonus point in the bag when we had the ball in the last minute and it's disappointing to lose that.

"Saracens made some uncharacteristic errors in the second half to keep us in it, but we didn't take the opportunities when they were there in the first half.

"The six penalties at the scrum will be a focal point. We came here looking for a low penalty-count, but if your set-piece gets tucked up, you are always going to be on the wrong end of the scoreboard and there's no easy fix."

Saracens: Goode; Maitland, Lozowski, Morris, Segun; Manu Vunipola, Van Zyl; Mako Vunipola (capt), Woolstencroft, Koch, Hunter-Hill, Swinson, McFarland, Earl, B Vunipola.

Replacements: Lewis, Barrington, Wainwright, Christie, Wray, De Haas, Hallett, Lewington.

Harlequins: Green; Beard, Northmore, Esterhuizen, Murley; Allan, Care; Garcia Botta, Walker (capt), Louw, Symons, Tizard, Jurevicius, Wallace, White.

Replacements: Riley, Wilson, Kerrod, Lewies, Taulani, Gjaltema, Edwards, Lynagh.

Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU).

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