Exiles end Sarries record

London Irish came out on top 23-19 in a full-blooded top-of-the table clash to end league leaders Saracens' unbeaten record at Madejski Stadium.

Previously unbeaten Saracens had looked to maintain their record after leading for most of the game, but finally the fell behind in the final ten minutes after a try from Elvis Seveali'i.

Sarries had previously tried to increase a six-point lead with failed attempts at drop-goals and the third-placed Exiles made them pay with their late score handing them a first loss of the season.

Saracens knew nothing could prevent them going into 2010 as league leaders following their best-ever start to a Premiership campaign - nine wins and one draw from 10 outings.

Alex Goode put them ahead early when he drilled over a long-range drop-goal, and the lead grew in the ninth minute when Justin Melch latched on to Alfredo Lalanne's charged-down clearance to go over - and Glen Jackson's conversion gave Sarries a 10-0 cushion.

Attack

Irish hit back on 11 minutes with a five-pass attack up the middle that finished with Steffon Armitage sending Chris Hala'ufia between the posts.

Saracens weathered a mini-storm as a result before increasing their lead on 22 minutes with a Jackson penalty, awarded because Irish were caught offside in numbers by referee Dean Richards.

After swapping penalties, Saracens led 16-10 at half time but Irish took the initiative at the start of the second period and despite missing a penalty Malone converted another on 46 and the lead was done to three.

That man Jackson, however, regained his side's six-point gap just two minutes later with a fine penalty strike from wide on the right.

Irish were throwing everything into their attacks and tempers flared when the Saracens' defence refused to buckle. Referee Richards had to break up two outbreaks of 'handbags' which actually served to rouse the crowd even further.

Back foot

Saracens then drove upfield and had their hosts on the back foot but, for the second time in the game, they elected to go for a drop-goal that failed - a choice that earned a chorus of booing from the home support.

Having pinned Irish back for fully seven minutes, Saracens conceded a penalty at the breakdown and left the home half without a point to show for all their pressure.

Then an attempted Saracens interception was adjudged to be a deliberate knock-on and Malone set up a fierce finale with a penalty goal on 66 minutes.

Irish took the lead for the first time on 70 minutes. For once, the Saracens defence failed to slam the door as Seveali'i burst between three failed tackles to score on the left, and Malone added the extras.