| Saracens (40) 61 |
| Tries: Lewington 2, B Vunipola 2, Goode, Tompkins, Isiekwe, Earl, Malins Cons: Lozowski 8 |
| Worcester (7) 29 |
| Tries: Batley, Venter 2, Smith, Beck Cons: Smith 2 |
Saracens maintained the stress on leaders Leicester with a nine-try rout of Worcester at StoneX Stadium.
Alex Lewington (2), Billy Vunipola, Alex Goode, Nick Tompkins and Nick Isiekwe all crossed as Sarries raced right into a 40-7 half-time benefit.
Francois Venter went over for Worcester earlier than Vunipola, Max Malins and Ben Earl additional stretched the hosts’ lead.
However late scores from Venter, Gareth Simpson and Ashley Beck gave spirited Warriors a bonus-point for 4 tries.
Saracens had skilled collectively for the primary time on Christmas Eve after a 13-day enforced break following a Covid-19 outbreak, however the five-time champions confirmed no indicators of rustiness and powered to a attempt bonus-point inside 21 minutes.
Goode put Lewington in for a straightforward end within the nook and issues regarded ominous when the Saracens pack simply shoved their opponents over their very own line from 5 metres out, with Vunipola claiming the pushover attempt.
Fly-half Goode went over following a strong Malins break after which turned supplier with a pleasant grubber kick for Tompkins to race onto.
Lock Isiekwe confirmed the deft expertise of a again, promoting the Warriors full-back a slick dummy to attain and rub extra salt into Worcester wounds.
However the Warriors constructed momentum late within the half, and after Sione Vailanu was held up simply quick, Joe Batley went over from shut vary after a choose and go.
The hosts had been in ruthless temper, nonetheless, and went into the interval with the ultimate phrase as Goode as soon as once more teed up Lewington, and Alex Lozowski kicked his fifth conversion.
Venter crossed after good work from Batley because the guests drew first blood within the second half, however regular service was rapidly resumed as Earl strolled over after the bounce of the ball bamboozled two Warriors.
The guests, who’re and not using a win on the highway in any competitors since September 2020, had been steamrolled once more by a line-out catch and drive, giving Vunipola his second attempt to have fun his new Sarries deal in fashion.
A high quality offload from Vincent Koch put the Premiership’s main attempt scorer Malins in for his ninth attempt of the season with 17 minutes left as Saracens threatened to inflict a fair heavier defeat on the Warriors than the club record Premiership 62-5 rout two seasons in the past.
However a outstanding finale belonged to Worcester as Venter capped a length-of-the-pitch break, Simpson pressured his method over from close-range and Beck completed off one other excellent long-range effort to provide the Warriors loads to take again to the Midlands.
Worcester head coach Jonathan Thomas instructed BBC Hereford and Worcester:
“Earlier than you even begin speaking in regards to the bodily aspect of the sport, mentally you might want to be in the precise place.
“It is a champion workforce and Sarries is a troublesome place to come back so should you’re not up to the mark mentally and bodily, or should you’re 1% off, you are going to get uncovered massively.
“The questions we have to ask the gamers and the workers is why weren’t we extra bodily and why weren’t we extra emotionally up for it in that first 40 minutes, as a result of we’ve proven we’re a very good workforce.
“At half-time we mentioned ‘we’ve scored a attempt to the minimal requirement now could be that we come away with a degree, we’ve to indicate some struggle round our defence’. We improved our defence and scored some actually good tries, and gained the second half.”
Saracens: Malins; Maitland, Lozowski, Tompkins, Lewington; Goode, Davies; Mako Vunipola, Lewis, Koch, Itoje, Isiekwe, Wray, Earl, B Vunipola.
Replacements: Woolstencroft, Barrington, Beaton, Swinson, McFarland, Van Zyl, Manu Vunipola, Daly.
Worcester: Shillcock; Hearle, Venter (co-capt), Beck, Van der Merwe; Smith, Chudley; Waller, Baldwin, Tyack, Batley, Kitchener, Hatherell, Hill (co-capt), Vailanu.
Replacements: Annett, Owen, Choose, Kvesic, Lewis, Simpson, Morris, Nanai.
Referee: Christophe Ridley.