By Behind the Bench
October 30 2016

Another solid display by Saracens brought three well-worked tries as well as committed defence as Leicester enjoyed the majority of second half pressure but could only manage one try as they were repelled time and again, despite making much more ground, runs and passes.

Saracens had Alex Goode at full back with Sean Maitland and Chris Wyles on the wings with Nick Tompkins swapping from 12 to 13 in place of Marcelo Bosch and Brad Barritt coming back in. Owen Farrell remained at fly half alongside Ben Spencer. In the pack, Mako Vunipola, Jamie George and Juan Figallo formed the front row with Michael Rhodes, the man of the match, in the second row with Jim Hamilton. Jackson Wray, Schalk Brits and Billy Vunipola made up the back row. Leicester, bidding for a first win at Allianz Park, made a number of changes to the victorious line up against Racing, as Telusa Veainu, Matt Toomua and Dom Barrow were all injured in this game. Mathew Tait was moved to full back, with Adam Thompstone and JP Pietersen remaining on the wings outside a revised centre partnership of Peter Betham and Jack Roberts. Owen Williams remained at fly half alongside Ben Youngs. In the forwards, the front row consisted of Marcos Ayerza, Tom Youngs and Dan Cole, with Graham Kitchener coming in at lock alongside Ed Slater. Mike Fitzgerald, Brendon O'Connor and Lachlan McCaffrey made up the back row.

Saracens set the tone as early as the third minute as Leicester were hassled into a knock on in the shadows of their own posts, the first of a series of errors as they failed to make their possession count. The hosts made a seventh minute breakthrough as a massive kick from deep provided a lineout on the fringe of the Leicester 22. This was pinched by Saracens who went through the phases, and then through a slick passing move from the centre to the left with Barritt, Farrell and Wray enabled Wyles to go in at the left hand corner for a concerted score. The Tigers went through multiple phases to advance to the heart of Saracens territory but Ben Youngs knocked on, although an earlier infringement allowed Williams to pull the deficit back to 7-3 with 13 minutes played.

The home side restored a seven point advantage within four minutes as after winning a scrum penalty in their own half, Wyles made a surging run from the resultant lineout and after a series of crashing drives, Farrell narrowly failed to go over in the corner, but converted a penalty for 10-3. On 22 minutes, the lead was 17-3 as Saracens countered sharply from a Tigers error and Goode's weaving run set up Maitland to finish at the right hand corner this time with Farrell adding another touchline conversion. Leicester continued to put together some moves of promise, but were blunted by a series of knock ons, in contrast to the assured handling and neat offloads of their hosts, and penned back by an effective Saracens kicking game. The home side could have added a third try five minutes before the break. Surviving a knock on call in his own 22, Goode clipped the ball forward forcing Pietersen to frantically clear. The Tigers offended from the lineout but Farrell struck the post with the penalty.

Three minutes into the second half and Saracens did have their third try, though. Leicester were penalised for holding on, Farrell kicked for the corner and the rolling maul did the rest as Billy Vunipola applied the finishing touch and Farrell added the extras for 24-3. Unexpectedly, those would be the last points the hosts would score as Tigers continued to attack, but the home side held their shape and waited for the mistakes to come. It took until the 56th minute for the visitors to gain a threatening attacking position as Saracens were penalised for crossing, but they redeemed themselves by turning over possession from the rolling maul. Sarries' attacking efforts were sporadic by now and easily thwarted by Leicester as a sense of stalemate began to emerge.

Mako Vunipola was sin-binned in the 63rd minute for leading with the shoulder against Freddie Burns, but the consequent Tigers attack came to nothing again as they were penalised for holding on. It was Burns' break three minutes later which provided the field position for replacement George Catchpole to go in at the left hand corner after some slick handling. They put together another dangerous attack with a sequence of powerful drives but failed to capitalise as they came in from the side. In turn, with eight minutes left, Saracens missed out on a chance for the fourth try as a lineout in the Leicester half was stolen. Leicester continued to press in the closing minutes, but were thwarted, and when a wayward kick sailed straight into touch the chance of a losing bonus point was gone.

So, a solid win, perhaps a little frustrating not to claim the fourth try, but, equally, given that Leicester dominated the second half, to only concede one try was impressive.

Line ups
Saracens:
15 Alex Goode - 14 Sean Maitland - 13 Nick Tompkins (23 Marcelo Bosch 60) - 12 Brad Barritt - 11 Chris Wyles - 10 Owen Farrell (22 Alex Lozowski 75)  - 9 Ben Spencer (21 Richard Wigglesworth 54) - 1 Mako Vunipola - 2 Jamie George (16 Schalk Brits 51) - 3 Juan Figallo (18 Petrus du Plessis 62) - 4 Michael Rhodes (20 Kelly Brown 62) - 5 Jim Hamilton (19 Mark Flanagan 78) - 6 Jackson Wray - 7 Schalk Burger (17 Richard Barrington 71) - 8 Billy Vunipola

Leicester Tigers
15 Mathew Tait - 14 Adam Thompstone - 13 Peter Betham - 12 Jack Roberts (22 Freddie Burns 57) - 11 JP Pietersen (23 George Catchpole 64) - 10 Owen Williams - 9 Ben Youngs (21 Sam Harrison 54) - 1 Marcos Ayerza (17 Ellis Genge 20) - 2 Tom Youngs (16 George McGuigan)- 3 Dan Cole (18 Logovi'i Mulipola 60) - 4 Ed Slater (20 Will Evans 64) - 5 Graham Kitchener - 6 Mike Fitzgerald - 7 Brendon O'Connor (19 Luke Hamilton 71)  - 8 Lachlan McCaffrey

Saracens (24) Tries: Wyles, Maitland, B Vunipola; Conv: Farrell (3); Pen: Farrell

Leicester Tigers (10) Try: Catchpole; Conv: O Williams; Pen: O Williams

Attendance: 9,734

Referee: Wayne Barnes (RFU)