Saracens suffered a pre-match blow when Elliot Daly withdrew with a toe problem but still managed to win; Nick Tompkins led Sarries on his 200th appearance for the north London club
Last Updated: 22/12/24 6:19 PM
Ben Earl (centre) helped Saracens to a comfortable win over Northampton
Saracens moved up to third in the Gallagher Premier League table with an emphatic 39-24 win over reigning champions Northampton at a sold-out StoneX Stadium.
The Saints beat the North Londoners three times last season, but that run never looked likely to be extended as a poor first-half effort left them with an impossible task.
It was Northampton's fifth defeat in eight league games this season and they now find themselves 19 points behind joint leaders Bath and Bristol.
Fergus Burke had two assists for Saracens, with Rhys Carre, Theo Dan, Ben Earl and Jamie George also crossing. Burke added three turnovers and a penalty for a 19-point tally.
Tommy Freeman, Tom Pearson, Archie McParland and Ollie Sleightholme scored for Saints and Fin Smith converted two of those.
On his 200th appearance for the club, Nick Tompkins led out Saracens, who were dealt a pre-match blow when Elliot Daly withdrew with a hamstring problem.
Tompkins looked set for an early celebration when he crossed the line after just eight minutes, but his effort was disallowed for a ground-up in the build-up.
Northampton's Alex Mitchell (left) and Fin Smith tackle Tobias Elliott (centre).
It didn't matter as within three minutes, Saracens were ahead when Burke collected a kick ahead of Tobias Elliott to touch down.
That was the only score of a competitive first quarter but soon after, the home team had another try disallowed. No 8 Tom Willis was on his way past, but the TMO replays showed an earlier shot by Ivan van Zyl.
Saracens kept up the pressure and were rewarded when Wales prop Carre was unstoppable from close range and then front-rower Dan brushed aside some feeble Saints fighting to score his side's third try.
Three minutes before the interval, the visitors got their bonus point when Northampton failed to deal with a chip forward from Van Zyl, Burke collecting the loose ball to race unchallenged.
Dingwall's Fraser tackles Saracens' Tom Willis (left).
Burke converted to give Saracens a 24-0 half-time lead, despite playing into the wind, as Saints failed to score in the opening period of the Premier League game for the first time in almost a year.
Three minutes after the restart, Saints finally got the score when Freeman made a strong run to push aside a weak tackle from Liam Williams and score.
The visitors were further boosted by a yellow card for Maro Itoje for an illegal tackle on Northampton lock Tom Lockett, who was injured and had to be replaced.
Saints capitalized when Pearson crossed, but suffered another injury blow when Emmanuel Iyogun was helped off with a leg injury.
Itoje returned from the sin bin to see George and Earl score a quick try to end any hope of a Saints comeback.
A better second half effort from Saints was rewarded with late tries from Sleightholme and McParland to earn them a bonus point, but the hosts had the final say with a penalty from Burke.
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