Saracens seal top spot and end Exiles play-off bid

Alex Goode's try on the stroke of half-time gave Saracens the lead for the first time

Saracens fought back to beat London Irish 45-21 to ensure they will finish the season top of the Premiership.

Irish raced into a 10-0 lead, but Alex Goode's try on the stroke of half-time put the hosts 13-10 ahead.

Paddy Jackson's boot cut the gap to 20-16 after Sean Maitland crossed, but Theo Dan and Eroni Mawi (2) sealed it.

• Premiership table

Mike Willemse went over for a consolation try in the final knockings, but a second defeat in eight matches leaves the Exiles seven points adrift of Northampton with one match left, while the leaders are now an unassailable nine points clear of Sale.

Saracens have won all 10 of their Premiership matches at home this season, but will host one more game at the StoneX Stadium this campaign - a play-off semi-final against fourth-placed Saints.

Having rested several internationals in their defeat at Saints last time out - their third reverse in five - Sarries fielded a strong XV including returning England pair Maro Itoje and Owen Farrell.

Yet Irish, who had won eight of their previous 10 in the Premiership, bossed the opening quarter and led 10-0 when Matt Rogerson crashed over from close range following Jackson's early penalty.

After an error-strewn start, Saracens began to take a grip on the match and two Farrell penalties cut the gap, while the TMO also ruled out a try when Max Malins was judged to have spilled the ball forward before grounding.

Irish looked set to take a deserved lead into the break when Rory Jennings launched a clearing kick to touch with just eight seconds left.

However, a quick Sarries line-out from their own 10m line caught out the Exiles defence as Ben Earl scorched down the short side and fed Goode for the run in.

Irish lost Rob Simmons to a fifth yellow card of the season within a minute of the second half after a high tackle on Dan, and Sarries capitalised immediately, recycling the ball quickly and whipping the ball left to give Maitland an easy try.

Yet Irish managed the absence of Simmons superbly, and Jackson slotted two more penalties to make it 20-16 as the lock returned.

The visitors continued to battle hard to keep their top-four hopes alive, but Saracens eased away again as Dan went over after a routine line-out catch and drive.

Replacement prop Mawi made his presence felt on his 50th Sarries appearance after coming on for Mako Vunipola with 15 minutes left.

The Fijian dived over for the bonus-point score after the hosts nicked an Irish line-out, and moments later barged past two tacklers to cross from close range, allowing Farrell to take his personal tally with the boot to 20 points.

Saracens: Goode, Malins, Lozowski, Tompkins, Maitland, Farrell (c), van Zyl; M Vunipola, Dan, Riccioni, Itoje, Hunter-Hill, Isiekwe, Earl, Wray.

Replacements: Lewis, Mawi, Judge, Tizard, Knight, de Haas, Hartley, Harris.

London Irish: Loader, Cinti, B Janse van Rensburg, Jennings, Hassell-Collins, Jackson, White; Fischetti, Creevy, Hoskins, Ratuniyarawa, Simmons, Rogerson (c), Pearson, Fa'aso'o.

Replacements: Willemse, Haffar, Chawatama, Munga, Gonzalez, Cunningham-South, O'Sullivan, Arundell.

Sin-bin: Simmons (41).

Referee: Adam Leal.

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