Match Centre: Gallagher Premiership: Saracens 37-19 Newcastle
Mako Vunipola was one of the try scorer for Saracens
©PA
Saracens 37-19 Newcastle Falcons, StoneX Stadium
Saracens managed to overcome Newcastle Falcons with a 37-19 bonus point victory in the latest round of the Gallagher Premiership at StoneX Stadium on Saturday.
With their sixth win in the campaign, Saracens have moved to the fifth place in the table while Newcastle Falcons now have 10 defeats in as many games as they languish at the bottom of the table.
Rory Jennings started the proceedings with an early penalty goal in front of the posts before Saracens worked through phases to allow Theo Dan dived from close range. Manu Vunipola missed out on the conversion as the scoreline remained at 5-3.
The Falcons hit back in the 16th minute as Adam Radwan capitalised on a loose pass from Saracens and collected his own kick to dot down and Jennings followed with the conversion and a penalty to make it 5-13.
The visitors thought they scored again when Iwan Stephens touched down but replays showed a knock on in the build up as Saracens seized the lead back as Ivan van Zyl went in from close range with a tap penalty and at the stroke of half time as a break from Alex Goode allowed Juan-Martin Gonzalez to crossover.
Vunipola kicked the extras as Saracens completed the opening half with a 22-16 lead.
The start of the second half saw Vunipola and Jennings trade penalties and the bonus point came in the 63rd minute as Newcastle skipper Callum Chick was sin binned for illegally bringing down a maul that also resulted in a penalty try for Mark McCall's men making it 25-19.
Mako Vunipola returned back to the field in the 65th minute following a head injury to Tom West and he made an impact in the 70th minute as he bundled over to extend the lead even further. Nevertheless, Vunipola was sent off in the closing stage of the game for a high tackle but Saracens went on to complete a bonus point victory.
Team line up:
Saracens: Goode; Segun, Daly, Hartley, Cinti; Manu Vunipola, van Zyl; Mako Vunipola (capt), Dan, Judge, McFarland, Tizard , Gonzalez , Knight, Christie.
Reserves: George, West, Hoskins, Isiekwe, Earl, B Vunipola, Simpson, Parton.
Newcastle: Penny; Radwan, Moroni, Orlando, Stephens; Jennings, O'Sullivan; Brantingham, Blamire, Bello, McDonald, de Chaves, Rubiolo, Pepper, Chick (capt).
Reserves: B Byrne, Brocklebank, McCallum, Cardall, Leatherbarrow, Elliott, Connon,
