Sarries take sting out of Wasps (From This Is Local London)

Saracens battle to London Wasps win

2:52pm Sunday 12th February 2012 in Local Sports By Simon Mail

Saracens kept up the pressure on Premiership leaders Harlequins with a 22-17 win at struggling London Wasps this afternoon.

Mark McCall’s side got off to the worst possible start after conceding an early try to Billy Vunipola. But second-placed Sarries fought back and took the lead through James Short’s interception try.

Wasps scored a second try in an entertaining first half when Tom Lindsay found the finishing touch but Alex Goode’s accuracy with the boot gave Sarries a 16-14 lead.

The second half lacked the excitement of the previous 40 minutes but both sides exchanged penalties as Saracens ground out another crucial away win.

John Smit took over the captaincy for the Premiership champions as he partnered Carlos Nieto in the front row. Neil de Kock returned to the bench for the first time in nearly three months after recovering from a fractured arm. Schalk Brits also came back on to the replacement list after missing the last six weeks with a shoulder injury.

Goode and Andy Saull both returned to the starting lineup after their international spell away with England and the Saxons.

The Men in Black suffered the worst possible start when they conceded a try after just three minutes. Riki Flutey launched an attack after the hosts received benefited from a fortunate ricochet off a player. The ball was worked into the path of number eight Vunipola who powered through a couple of missed tackles to ground the ball. Nick Robinson added the conversion for Wasps.

Saracens got off the mark a couple of minutes later when they were awarded a penalty and Goode booted the ball over. It did not take long for the visitors to add another penalty, which was given for offside, as Goode pulled them to within a point of Wasps.

The visitors took the lead for the first time midway through the half after a big mistake from the tryscorer. Vunipola’s pass was intercepted by Short and the winger sped away from inside his own half to score. Goode’s conversion gave Sarries a 13-7 lead.

But London Wasps responded immediately when Sarries failed to deal with a kick and hooker Lindsay burst through to score under the posts. Robinson’s conversion edged the strugglers back in front at Adams Park.

The Men in Black regained the lead from the restart as referee Greg Garner awarded a penalty which was easily fired over by full-back Goode.

Saracens extended their lead at the start of the second half after Goode easily kicked another penalty in front of the posts.

McCall brought back fit again Brits and De Kock 11 minutes into the second half in place of Jamie George and Peter Stringer.

The hosts were guilty of a costly miss after 56 minutes when Robinson blasted his penalty wide of the target.

Joel Tomkins was brought on with 12 minutes remaining for his league debut for Saracens.

The hosts narrowed the gap to just two points when Sarries were caught offside and Robinson fired over the kick.

But the champions earned another chance for three points and Goode maintained his consistency with the boot late on to seal a hard-earned victory.

London Wasps: Southwell, Haughton, Waldouck, Flutey, Daly, Robinson, Berry (Simpson, 51); Payne, Lindsay, Broster, O’Donoghue, Wentzel, Birkett, Poff, Vunipola

Saracens: Goode, Taylor, Wyles, Powell (Tomkins, 68), Short (Tagivakibau, 74), Mordt, Stringer (De Kock, 51); Smit (Gill, 51), George (Brits, 51), Nieto (du Plessis, 65), Kruis, Smith (Vyvyan, 57), Melck, Saull (Fraser, 71), Wray

Scoring: 5-0, 7-0, 7-3, 7-6, 7-11, 7-13, 12-13, 14-13, 14-16 HT 14-19, 17-19, 17-22

Referee: Greg Garner