Saracens 38-15 Northampton: Sarries crush Saints with five tries in Premiership semi-final

Scotland wing Sean Maitland's two first-half tries were both improved by England star Owen Farrell

Saracens reached their seventh Premiership final in 10 years as they survived a second-half comeback to complete a five-try play-off semi-final win over Northampton Saints.

Sarries were cruising 21-3 at the break after two converted tries from Scotland wing Sean Maitland and another from South African scrum-half Ivan van Zyl.

Alex Mitchell and James Ramm then both scored to give Saints some hope.

But a penalty try and a late Max Malins score helped Sarries complete the job in a game that ended 14 men a side after late yellow cards for England lock Maro Itoje and Saints replacement scrum-half Tom James.

Saracens will now be chasing a sixth title - and a first in four years following their relegation to the Championship - when they face the winners of Sunday's second semi-final between Leicester Tigers and Sale Sharks.

The final is at Twickenham on Saturday, 27 May - when they may have a chance to avenge their dramatic last-minute loss to Freddie Burns' drop goal just a year ago.

Poor start for Saints at the StoneX

This was the 11th time that Northampton had reached the semi-finals - and their second in a row. But their coach Phil Dowson was still playing the last time they actually reached the final in 2014, when they beat Sarries.

And, although they beat Sarries 38-29 last month and are this season's highest points and try scorers, they had not won at the StoneX Stadium since 2016.

They needed a good start to stand any real chance - and they failed to get it.

With the game just 25 seconds old, Maitland could have been sin-binned for clattering into George Furbank with his elbows in an aerial collision that left the England back needing lengthy treatment.

But referee Karl Dickson issued only a penalty, declined to consult the television match official, and in the sixth minute Maitland was still on the park to score Saracens' opening try.

The black-leggings-clad Maitland scored again on 23 minutes when he latched on to a clever Farrell grubber to score in the left corner.

And Sarries had their third try on the half hour when the quick-thinking Van Zyl took a tap penalty to go over for an easy run-in.

Northampton scrum-half Alex Mitchell scored the first of Saints' two second-half tries

Better second half for Northampton

Northampton re-emerged after the break to show a bit more firepower - and were rewarded on 56 minutes when scrum-half Mitchell scored their first try.

Saints then briefly threatened a proper comeback when England forward Courtney Lawes set up winger Ramm to score.

But their revival was snuffed out by referee Dickson on 70 minutes when a Saracens maul forced a penalty try that also led to James being sent to the sin-bin.

Malins then made the game safe before Sarries were also reduced to 14 men when England and Lions lock Itoje was yellow-carded with just two minutes left.

Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall:

"Sean Maitland probably didn't need to do what he did, which is to pull out because he's going to compete for the ball. It was a good decision.

"It was our strongest defensive performance for years. It's always been the DNA of the club and that's as good as we've been for a while.

"That laid the foundation for the victory. We were physical and got control of a very good attacking team. The players felt in control. You're not going to have a semi-final your own way all the time.

"But I was very pleased with how we dealt with it. We were emotionally consistent and strong. We got on with the next thing, did our jobs and got back to basics. These things happen in finals and semi-finals and we dealt with it really well."

Northampton boss Phil Dowson:

"The referee didn't give it. I presume the TMO looked at it and made a decision that it was a rugby contest and therefore play on.

"We'll have to look at it again. I don't know where Maitland was looking. I don't know where he was in conjunction with the ball in the air. Whether I agree with it or not is irrelevant.

"You need to be lucky here. A couple of things didn't go our way but I'm sure Sarries would say the same thing. That was one of those decisions that didn't go our way, rightly or wrongly.

"Everyone will have an opinion on it. But it was still 15 a side and we conceded three tries in the first half. In a semi-final against the best team in the league, you're going to struggle, no matter what decision is made by the referee."

Saracens: Goode, Malins, Lozowski, Tompkins, Maitland, Farrell (capt), Van Zyl; M Vunipola, George, Riccioni, Itoje, Tizard, Isiekwe, Earl, Wray.

Replacements: Dan, Mawi, Judge, Hunter-Hill, Knight, De Haas, Taylor, Daly.

Sin-bin: Itoje (78).

Northampton: Furbank, Ramm, Dingwall, Hutchinson, Freeman, F Smith, Mitchell; A Waller, Cruse, Davison, Ribbans, Moon, Lawes, Ludlam (capt), Augustus.

Replacements: R Smith, E Waller, Hill, Salakaia-Loto, Scott-Young, Graham, James, Collins.

Sin-bin: James (70).

Referee: Karl Dickson.

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