Sarries through despite loss

Saracens will play Northampton in the semi-finals of the LV= Cup despite losing 23-22 at home to Newport Gwent Dragons on Sunday.

The Guinness Premiership side went into the game knowing that one point would send them to Franklin's Gardens while victory would mean a trip to take on the Cardiff Blues.

The Dragons in contrast only had pride to play for - a virtue they clearly have plenty of given the skills on display at Vicarage Road.

They made a fine start but nevertheless went 6-0 behind after Sarries' Glen Jackson converted penalties in the sixth and tenth minutes respectively.

However, just when it looked as though the home side might take control, a fine pass from Newport captain Ashley Smith released wing Will Harries, who embarked on a fine solo run to the opposing line in the 15th minute, the try converted by fly-half Jason Tovey.

See-saw

Jackson's third penalty handed Saracens the lead once more just six minutes later but the see-saw soon tilted back towards the Dragons when Tovey landed a long-range penalty from near halfway.

Both players appeared in form and Jackson regained the lead for Sarries yet again after 28 minutes with a fine effort.

The penalty was awarded after a late hit by hooker Steve Jones on Justin Marshall - the former fortunate not to be sin-binned after repeated infringements.

Jackson's 100 per cent record in the competition ended when he sent his fifth attempt on goal wide from 40 yards just past the half-hour.

Tovey fared no better with a hooked drop-goal attempt but tilted things back the Dragons' way on the stroke of half-time with a long-range penalty from a difficult angle.

Saracens seemed set to miss out on a semi-final place altogether when wing Harries struck again on 47 minutes.

Dragons captain Smith was once again the provider, his grubber kick catching the home defence flat-footed. Tovey then converted to open up an eight-point advantage.

Sarries were prompted into a number of changes, with Springbok Neil de Cock and Derick Hougaard replacing Marshall and Jackson.

Oppotunistic

Fly-half Hougaard immediately made his presence felt by kicking a drop goal, before the home crowd was buoyed by an opportunistic try scored by Chris Wyles after he charged down an attempted clearance by Martyn Thomas.

Hougaard's conversion should have established winning momentum for Saracens, however Tovey replied instead with a calmly-taken drop goal.

Hougaard tried and failed with a 50-yard penalty attempt with 10 minutes to go and the home crowd then voiced their frustration as he proceeded to miss two more attempts from inside his own half before further missing two drop-goal attempts.

Sarries thus suffered a home defeat but owing to the complicated format of the competition, qualify for the last four by virtue of their losing bonus point.