RUGBY:SARACENS maintained their pressure on the English Premiership leaders Leicester as they inflicted a 10th-straight defeat (12-6) on struggling London Irish at Vicarage Road yesterday.
Far from a classic, this grinding London derby was decided by the boot, with young outhalf Owen Farrell kicking four penalties for Sarries and Chris Malone responding with two of his own for the Exiles.
The win moves Saracens above Northampton and into second place, 10 points behind leaders Leicester, but Irish, without a win since October 31st, are now down to seventh with their hopes of a play-off place fading fast.
Saracens rugby director Brendan Venter was in charge for the last time before returning to South Africa with his family, and his team began as if determined to give him a winning send-off.
Their pressure forced Irish to concede a seventh-minute penalty, but Farrell’s kick rebounded off the post. When presented with the chance to make amends four minutes later, the fly-half managed to strike the opposite post. But Farrell made no mistake from a third opportunity after 22 minutes to give the hosts a 22nd-minute lead.
In their first effective attack Irish earned a penalty for offside which Malone kicked on 28 minutes. Malone struck again five minutes later goal following a ruck offence. But the hosts surged upfield and levelled three minutes before the break with Farrell’s second successful kick, awarded for offside.
Referee David Rose ended a very ordinary half by awarding Irish a penalty when Carlos Nieto entered a ruck from the side, but Malone’s kick cannoned off an upright and wide.
Irish made the more positive start to the second half, pinning Saracens in their own half, but they wasted a potential scoring situation in front of the posts with first a knock-on and then a penalty conceded at the scrum.
Malone saw a penalty sail wide after 55 minutes and when Saracens finally returned to the Irish 22, Farrell made no mistake with his third penalty on 65 minutes.
The customary rash of replacements in the final quarter did create a bit more room. Irish then put Malone under pressure with a pass that Saracens read and hunted down. The fullback was penalised for not releasing, and Farrell slotted home his fourth penalty, this one from 40 metres.
On Saturday evening Leicester extended their lead at the top of the Premiership with a 27-16 win over Northampton in a pulsating encounter at Welford Road. With 16 minutes to go Marcos Ayerza scored a crucial try for Leicester.
Ulster Schools Cup
All six Ulster Schools Cup second round games scheduled for last Saturday were postponed and have been re-arranged for the following dates.
Wednesday – Omagh Academy v Rainey Endowed. Saturday – Dungannon Royal v Antrim Gram, Carrick Gram v Belfast High, Cambridge House v Grosvenor Gram, Portora Royal v Larne Gram, Portadown College v Wellington College.
