Chris Ashton and Chris Wyles showcased their supreme finishing abilities as Saracens crushed Harlequins’ European hopes in front of a world record crowd at Wembley.
– INTERVIEW: English rugby’s newest star Jonathan Joseph
– #360Rugby: O’Connell, Biggar and Joseph star in 6 Nations round-up
– Ireland must talk O’Connell into staying on for one more year
Ashton, whose afternoon was marred slightly by a late yellow card, scored a brilliant brace of tries either side of half-time to add to two from Wyles and one from Billy Vunipola.
Despite a fast start that saw Jack Clifford score within 30 seconds, Quins were unable to live with the pace of their hosts, and were once again made to pay for costly mistakes.
“The first minute didn’t go very well,” Saracens director of rugby, Mark McCall, joked afterwards. “I think the second 20 minutes [of the first half ] was as good as we’ve been all season. I thought we counterattacked really well, and we looked dangerous with the ball.”
Defeat in front of a club record 84,068 crowd – 179 more than the previous benchmark set 12 months ago – leaves Quins with little chance of playing European Champions Cup rugby next term.
Thanks to EVERYONE who came and filled this place. Awesome crowd, awesome day. @Saracens pic.twitter.com/O3Do5JL9K4
— Chris Ashton (@ChrisAshton1) March 28, 2015
“It’s incredibly frustrating, we’re just too easy to knock off our stride at the moment,” director of rugby, Conor O’Shea, said. Indeed, Quins knew they had to win here but Clifford’s early try, gleefully scored after the flanker had charged down a Neil de Kock box kick, was about as good as it got for the visitors.
Saracens took the lead as Wyles finished under the posts following good work from Ashton and De Kock. Charlie Hodgson added the extras and soon they had a man advantage too as Wayne Barnes harshly sent Ugo Monye to the sin bin for failing to release.
Hodgson and Nick Evans exchanged penalties before Ashton’s finishing skills came to the fore to give Saracens a seven-point lead just as Monye prepared to rejoin the action.
Barnes was not giving Quins an inch, and their frustrations were piqued as the referee allowed Jacques Burger to stay on the pitch after a tackle that forced Kyle Sinckler off with a knee injury.
Two Alex Goode penalties gave the hosts a 21-8 half-time lead, and although Evans narrowed the gap at the beginning of the second half, Barnes angered the Quins faithful yet again as he failed to penalise the Saracens full-back as he appeared to body-check Danny Care.
But they could have few complaints as Ashton wrapped up the win with an excellent try a little over six minutes after the restart.
Following a stoppage for an injury to Clifford, the host put pace on the ball from a line-out before Wyles teed up the winger to run into the right corner. Goode added a tight conversion, and although Evans reduced the arrears once more with a penalty, the game had been decided.
Leicester claw their way back to third
Leicester moved up to third above playoff rivals Exeter Chiefs with a 25-18 win at Welford Road. The visitors outscored the hosts on the try count through Thomas Waldrom and Will Chudley, but Freddie Burns’ 20 points with the boot proved key. Henry Slade kicked two penalties and one conversion.
Geoff Parling, who will join Exeter next season, touched down for Tigers. Meanwhile, London Irish withheld late pressure to record a morale-boosting 22-21 win against fellow strugglers Newcastle Falcons. Halani Aulika, Scott Steele and Andrew Fenby all crossed in the first half for the hosts, Shane Geraghty adding two conversions.
Tom Catterick kicked three penalties while Chris Harris scored a try for Falcons. Chris Noakes added a penalty for Irish with Adam Powell’s converted lastminute try making it a tense finish.
