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Last Updated: Tuesday, 27 December 2005, 17:49 GMT
Saracens 19-20 London Irish
A mass brawl broke out in the second half with two players sin-binned
Saracens: (6) 19
Tries: Mitchell
Cons: Jackson
Pens: Jackson 4
London Irish: (14) 20
Tries: Horak
Pens: Everitt
Drop goals: Everitt
Barry Everitt kicked a 40-metre penalty to earn London Irish a dramatic victory with the last kick of a stormy match.

Everitt created the game's opening try for Michael Horak and his kicking eased the Exiles into a 14-6 half-time lead.

A second-half clash between Ben Skirving and Delon Armitage sparked a 25-man brawl and saw both sin-binned.

Saracens fought back to take the lead through a Hamish Mitchell try and Glen Jackson's kicking but Everitt snatched the points for the visitors.


  • London Irish coach Brian Smith:
    "Barry got us out of jail," said Smith about Everitt's last-minute penalty.

    "But it was a big forward battle and I must pay tribute to our South African front row - Neal Hatley, Danie Coetzee and Faan Rautenbach.

    "If your forwards don't front up in winter you can forget about being a force in the Premiership."

  • Saracens coach Steve Diamond:
    "We didn't deserve to win on the strength of our first-half performance when our forwards took a hiding.

    "We picked up in the second half but just couldn't quite turn it round.

    "All credit to London Irish for taking the game to us and we couldn't get to grips with them for a while, but we let ourselves down with our execution."


    Saracens: Scarbrough; Bailey, Castaignede, Johnston, Vaikona; Jackson, Bracken; Yates, Byrne, Broster; Raiwalui, Chesney; Vyvyan, B Russell, Skirving.
    Replacements: Cairns, Mitchell, Seymour, Randell, Dickens, Bartholomeusz, BJ Russell.

    London Irish: Horak, Armitage, Penney, Mordt, Bishop, Everitt, Hodgson, Hatley, Coetzee, Rautembach, Casey, Roche, Gustard, Danaher, Leguizamon.
    Replacements:Wheatley, Russell, Strudwick, Murphy, Catt, Edwards, Laidlaw.



  • SEE ALSO
    Saracens 18-10 Ulster
    17 Dec 05 |  European Club
    European Challenge Cup round-up
    18 Dec 05 |  European Club
    London Irish 27-23 Cardiff Blues
    04 Dec 05 |  English


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