Saracens 37-23 Newcastle: Sarries get the engine up and running again

SARACENS might not quite be firing on all four cylinders yet but they are getting there and were good value for this comeback win against a combative Newcastle side that rattled them early on.

It needed a strong second half from Owen Farrell's side to get the job done and the icing on the cake was a try bonus in the second minute of extra time, courtesy of the hard working Billy Vunipola who didn't enjoy one of his stellar days but kept chugging away nonetheless.

The Falcons will feel hard done by missing out on a losing bonus point but after a promising start they lost all discipline after the break and conceded a barrage of penalties which made life very difficult.

Saracens, playing their first home game in the Premiership for just over a year, rather missed their cue in an untidy opening half hour in which Newcastle snaffled two tries.

Mike Brown, making his competitive debut for the club, scored under the posts after picking a line between the two Sarries props who had left too much space and that was followed by a nicely taken try by Ben Stephenson who profited from a missed tackle in midfield by Dom Morris to speed home.

The only moment of cheer for Saracens before they got their act together was a magical and unusual out-the-back offload by Max Malins to Tim Swinson.

Malins, tracking an Owen Farrell break, took the move on and was shaping to pass inside to his left when he somehow conjured an offload in the same instant to the big lock on his right shoulder.

It deserved to be a trymaking moment but Swinson, not overly used to scoring tries, couldn't dob down although credit to a fine last-minute tackle by Sean Robinson.

Fast start: Ben Stevenson scores for Falcons

Saracens finally bared their teeth just after the half hour when a thumping midfield hit by Morris – making up for his earlier miss – got their gander up and from that moment the home side were in the ascendency heading towards the break.

That period of pressure resulted in just the one try, a penalty try from a line out rumble when Jamie George was heading for an inevitable score before being dragged down by George McGuigan.

It was an important moment and after the break it was virtually all Saracens as they took control and Newcastle fell foul of referee Ian Tempest who enjoyed an excellent game.

MOM Jamie George piled over from short range after a quick tapped penalty and celebrated mightily after a frustrating year or so – look out for a major George bounce back this season – while soon after Mako Vunipoa pounced for a third try.

Just once did Newcastle threaten to get back on terms soon after Connon had kicked a third penalty, when Jamie Blamire read play brilliantly and picked off an interception pass 35 yards out…and promptly dropped it.

Blamire has wheels and would surely have made it under the posts.

That was Falcons final chance and after Farrell had first denied them a losing bonus with a penalty he then drove the ball into the corner after another penalty and Billy Vuniploa did the rest. A more than useful day at the office for Sarries.

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER

Saracens ……….37pts

Tries: Penalty 36, George 47, M Vunipola 52, B Vunipola 82

Conversions: Farrell 48, 53, 82

Penalties: Farrell 13, 58, 77

SARACENS: Mailin 7.5; Lewington 7, Morris 6.5 (Goode 48, 7) , Lozowski 7, Maitland 6.5 (Tompkins 48, 7), Farrell (c) 8, Davies 7.5 (Van Zyl 77, 6); M Vunipola 7 (Mawi 61, 6) , George 8.5 (Woolstencroft, 70, 7), Riccioni 7 (Clarey 61, 6), Hunter-Hill 6.5 (Christie 48, 6), Swinson 6.5, Isiekwe 7.5, Earl 7.5 (Raffell 77, 6), B Vunipola 7

Newcastle ……..23pts

Tries: Brown 15, Stevenson 24

Conversions: Connon 16, 25

Penalties: Connon 31, 69, 79

NEWCASTLE: Brown 8; Radwan 7, Stevenson 7, Lucock 6 (Wacokecoke, 62, 6), Earle 6; Connon 6.5, Schreuder 6; Brocklebank 6 (Cooper 53, 7), McGuigan 6 (Blamire 63, 6), Davison 6 (Mulipola 49, 6.5) , Fuser 6 (Montgomery 53, 6), Robinson 7, Graham 5.5 (Basham 61, 6), Welch (c) 7, Chick 7

REFEREE: Ian Tempest

ATTENDANCE: 8,100

Star man: Jamie George – Saracens