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Premiership champions Saracens rout Harlequins as Newcastle lose again

football23 March 2024 19:00| © AFP
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Owen Farell @ Getty Images

Reigning champions Saracens thrashed Harlequins 52-7 in the English Premiership on Saturday, running in eight tries against their London rivals.

In a match played at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the home of the Premier League football club, Saracens surged into a 24-0 lead before halftime, with Sean Maitland scoring two of their four tries in the opening 40 minutes.

Alex Lewington and Theo Dan also went over in the first half. Dan crossed again early in the second period as Saracens showed no signs of rustiness following an eight-week break for the international Six Nations Championship.

Saracens led 31-0 before Quins managed a consolation try through Alex Dombrandt.

But the Argentina duo of Lucio Cinti and Juan Martin Gonzalez added to Harlequins' agony before Alex Goode scored Saracens' eighth try.

Owen Farrell, the former England captain, marked his 250th appearance for Saracens with six conversions as a Quins team featuring England flyhalf Marcus Smith were overwhelmed.

Victory meant Sarries leapfrogged Quins into second place in the table, with the top four teams at the end of the regular season qualifying for the title-deciding playoffs.

Elsewhere, Newcastle's new consultant director of rugby Steve Diamond's first game in charge ended with a 25-16 defeat by Exeter.

It was the Falcons' 13th loss from as many league games this season and left them firmly rooted to the foot of the table.

Newcastle scored a try after only 70 seconds, through wing Ben Stevenson, but Exeter managed four of their own as Greg Fisilau, Zack Wimbush, Scott Sio and Rusi Tuima as they maintained their bid for a top-four finish.

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