Aviva Premiership: Saracens come from behind to topple Newcastle Falcons
By Keith Moore
Last Updated: 01/05/16 6:10pm
Saracens fought back from an 11-point deficit at half-time to record a 23-14 win over the Falcons at Allianz Park and guarantee top spot.
It was the final game of rugby for club legend Jacques Burger, but it looked like it would be far from a memorable one as the home side went into the break 14-3 down after a pair of tries from Newcastle winger Marcus Watson.
Saracens were able to turns things around in the second half, with Jackson Wray notching two tries as the defending champions scored 20 unanswered points.
The win means Saracens are guaranteed to finish the regular season top of the table, and will host one of the two semi-finals.
Newcastle started the game well, but were unable to break the resolute Saracens defence in the initial exchanges, with Charlie Hodgson's lone penalty the only scoring act of the first quarter.
But as the half wore on the Falcons grew in confidence, and were rewarded for their enthusiasm when a sweeping move to the left ended with Watson dotting down in the corner despite attention from Chris Ashton. Following lengthy deliberation the TMO awarded the try, and the touchline conversion made it 7-3 to Newcastle after 22 minutes.
Things went from bad to worse for Saracens when Watson scored his second of the afternoon, this time latching onto the ball after a deft grubber ahead from fly-half Craig Willis. Willis added the extras to hand the visitors a deserved 14-3 lead going into the break.
Saracens were back to their clinical best from the outset of the second half, with a kick ahead well chased by Ashton to force a 5m scrum soon after the break. Saracens won a penalty from the scrum and kicked for the corner to set up the driving maul. The visitors collapsed the maul, and Hodgson once again kicked for the corner when the referee awarded the penalty.
At the second time of asking Saracens were able to muscle their way over the line, with Wray the beneficiary at the back of the maul.
Hodgson missed the conversion, but made no such mistake when Wray crossed in similar fashion in the 52nd minute, handing his side a 15-14 lead.
The former England fly-half then added a penalty before Maro Itoje scored the try that took the game away from the visitors. It came off the back off another driving maul, but the second rower grabbed the loose ball after the forwards fractured and dived over the line from close range.
Hodgson sent the conversion attempt wide, but it was enough for Saracens to hold out for the win to give Burger a deserved farewell.