Saracens end London Irish winning streak
Mike Catt came on for the closing stages of the match
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Saturday, 27, Dec 2008 08:56
Glen Jackson kicked Saracens to a surprise 16-13 victory over Guinness Premiership leaders London Irish.
The win at Vicarage Road brought an end to London Irish's ten-match unbeaten run and improved Saracens hopes of reaching the play-offs.
Difficult conditions lead to a scrappy clash between the capital clubs, with a number of penalties falling wide of the posts.
However, it was Jackson's 66th minute conversion which ultimately proved the difference between the two sides.
London Irish entered the match after cruising to a 42-12 victory over Gloucester last Saturday.
Although Saracens kicker Jackson gave the hosts the lead through a penalty, London Irish hit back when neat work down the wing from winger Sailosi Tagicakibau and Peter Hewat lead to Declan Danaher being fed through to score under the posts.
Shane Geraghty scored the straight-forward conversion and after penalties were exchanged by each side, the Exiles appeared in control with a 10-6 lead.
Saracens responded just before the break after driving off a five-metre scrum and when the ball broke lose, scrum-half Moses Rauluni ducked and dived through two tackles to squeeze the ball over the line to score.
Fly-half Jackson converted to give Saracens a 13-10 lead at the break.
Vicarage Road's capacity crowd began to feel the tension in the second half after just two scores before the last quarter - penalties from Hewat and Jackson.
London Irish swung England international Mike Catt on for the closing stages and the move appeared to be rewarded when the Exiles were awarded a late penalty.
However, Hewat pulled his kick wide of the posts and Saracens held on to win 16-13.