Saracens thump Newcastle and Northampton beat London Irish

Charlie’s Hodgson scored 18 points for his first appearance of the season as Saracens remained at the top of the Premiership with a 40-3 thumping of Newcastle.
The fly-half kicked three penalties and two conversion as well as scoring a try on his return to action with David Strettle, with a double, Jamie George and Alex Goode also going over.
Phil Godman put Newcastle in the lead early but that was it as Hodgson scored ten points to put Sarries in front for a 10-3 half-time lead.
Strettle grabbed a brace in the second half while George and Goode secured the try bonus-point.
Earlier, Northampton claimed a narrow 19-14 win against London Irish at the Madjeski thanks to a try from James Wilson and 12 points from the the boot of Stephen Myler.
Ian Humphreys put the Exiles on the board first with a penalty but two penalties from Myler and Wilson’s converted try put Saints 13-3 in front.
The homes reduced the gap just before half-time though as new boys James O’Connor put Mickael Tagicakibau over in the corner to only trail 11-16 at the break.
O’Connor and the Exiles put Northampton under pressure in the second half and Humphreys cut the deficit to only two points but that was the closest they got as Myler sealed the win with his fifth successful kick of the day.