Exiles swept aside by stylish Saracens

Taking their cue from the high-stepping dancers who strutted their stuff before the kick-off, Saracens brought the same grace…

Taking their cue from the high-stepping dancers who strutted their stuff before the kick-off, Saracens brought the same grace and athleticism to the task of inflicting a five-try defeat on the troubled Exiles in rain-swept conditions yesterday.

The five points Saracens picked up keep the club on course for a home draw in the play-offs, which may prove to be beyond the erratic Irish.

Apart from an anxious period when they suddenly conceded 14 points midway through the second half, Saracens were spirited, stylish and controlled, shrugging off the inconsistent form that had seen them lose nine league games this season. "We still need to win our last three games to have a chance of finishing in the top four" said Francois Pienaar, their chief executive.

Saracens' owner Nigel Wray must have been happy with the demolition job but he is clearly bitter about the imbroglio over the rescheduling of Six Nations games. In the match programme Wray said the Rugby Football Union's policy could be summed up as "let's shaft the English clubs and their sponsors who've invested a fortune in promoting rugby".

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London Irish too issued an ominous statement, announcing an imminent overhaul of club finances which will be targeted on the playing and coaching staff. Geoff Huckstep, the chief executive, said "uncertainties created by the current breakdown in negotiations between the RFU and the English clubs" had forced the review.

Wray at least could have few complaints about the gung-ho manner in which Saracens set about the luckless Irish in a downpour that put a premium on secure handling.

The Saracens' captain Kyran Bracken provided the spark for a first-minute try, sending a clever grub-kick down the right which Tim Horan followed up for a diving try in the corner. Duncan McRae then dropped a slick goal from just inside the 22 before Darragh O'Mahony raced away to score in the left corner.

Saracens seemed to have the game as good as won when Richard Haughton stretched their lead to 20-0 with a splendid try on the right courtesy of a short pass by McRae. However, Barry Everitt, the Irish outhalf had ideas of his own: he got his side off the mark with a tricky 25-metre penalty and then scored a superb solo try at the right flag which briefly raised doubts about Saracens' durability in defence.

On the hour Saracens conceded a penalty try for persistent offside and then allowed Geoff Appleford to reduce the deficit to 30-22 with a touch down on the right before Gerald Arasa made the game safe when he left three Irish defenders grasping at air en route to the left corner.

Afterwards Pienaar blamed Saracens' lengthy injury list for his team's inconsistent form this term but his problems look likely to continue after he saw star centre Horan limp off yesterday after aggravating a hamstring injury.

"I said before that I think we have been unlucky this season because of the number of injuries we have had," said the former World Cup-winning captain, whose other injured players include Tom Shanklin and Ben Johnston.

Pienaar, however, added that he hopes French wizard Thomas Castaignede, who ruptured his Achilles in the build up to a French international match, should be fit for the play-offs.

SARACENS: Sparg; Haughton, Sorrell, Horan (Arasa, 50min), O'Mahony; McRae, Bracken (capt); Flatman, Parkes (Cairns, h-t), White, Davison (Murray, 51), Grewcock, Chesney, Hill (Roques, h-t), Diprose.

LONDON IRISH: Cunningham; Sackey, Appleford, Oliver (Ashforth, 36), Bishop; Everitt, Tonu'u; Hatley, Kirke, Halford, Strudwick, Williams, Danaher, Dawson, Bates.

Referee: B Campsall (Yorkshire).