Saracens clocked off too often to slip to an 18-12 home defeat by an elated Northampton outfit, condemned to their third Premiership loss of the season.
England scrum-half Alex Mitchell raced in for what proved the winning try, before Red Rose great Courtney Lawes settled the contest with a stunning lineout steal.
Saints claimed two smart scores through wing Ollie Sleightholme and half-back Mitchell – and that after Fin Smith’s two penalties handed the visitors a 6-0 lead at the interval.
Saracens did not register a point until Tom Parton’s try in the 59th minute. The former London Irish wing has picked Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5 for his try-scoring song at Saracens, for obvious nickname reasons.
Saracens so rarely limit their fiercest intensity and application to business hours, but so it proved at StoneX Stadium in a dispiriting loss for the Men In Black.
In thickening fog, Saracens lost sight of their game management, and Saints took full opportunity. Saracens have only lost 13 times at home in the league in 11 years – but two of those defeats have now come in the last six weeks.
Mark McCall’s men will doubtless cope despite this loss, but the defending champions will still be fuming to have lost three matches in eight league outings so far this term.
Owen Farrell missed out with a minor knee knock, and would have been a frustrated spectator. The England great has stepped down from Red Rose duty for the Six Nations, to protect his and his family’s mental health.
Farrell will continue to captain Saracens though, and will be itching to be back in club action as soon as possible. Saracens were curiously off-key in a circumspect showing.
Theo Dan galloped away early on, and only a slightly misplaced pass and knock-on by would-be recipient Ivan Van Zyl denied the hosts a quick-fire score.
After that, Sarries lost their usual fizz in approach and finishing power in the final third. Smith missed one straightforward shot at goal, but then landed two more in nine minutes.
That put Saints into a 6-0 lead heading towards the half-hour mark. Sarries rolled up their sleeves and set about wrestling some territory, but a cheap, aggressive reaction from Billy Vunipola halted the momentum.
The hosts won a penalty just inside the Saints half, only for No 8 Vunipola to tussle just too long with the visiting pack – and the sanction was reversed.
Saracens had to go back to square one, which they did, but this was also time, effort and exertion wasted. The home side punted a penalty to the corner with six minutes to go to the break, and all of sudden they upped the ante.
The Men in Black sensed it was time to strike, but Lucio Cinti knocked on out wide. Saracens won a penalty at the scrum, five metres out, but Lawes then somehow thwarted the hosts’ penalty lineout maul.
When Saints won a penalty at the next scrum to clear their lines, the East Midlanders were able to carry their 6-0 lead into the interval.
Saracens returned after the break intent on grabbing hold of the contest, but only slipped further behind. George Furbank’s clean break set a fine platform for Saints, then Fraser Dingwall’s crisp cross-field chip afforded Sleightholme a walk-in try.
Smith’s conversion stretched Saints’ lead to 13-0. A worried Saracens side finally troubled the scorers just shy of the hour mark.
Manu Vunipola’s looping wide pass was fast and accurate enough to allow Parton a smart finish in the left corner. A pass fully worthy of a try in any contest, but still Sarries could not take control.
Fly-half Vunipola could not add the extras, and Saints were quickly on the offensive again. Replacement scrum-half Mitchell broke away, set a fine move in play then finished it off himself, for the visitors’ second score.
Smith hit the post with the touchline conversion effort, but Saints still led 18-5 with just 14 minutes to play. Saracens are never, ever dead and buried, though.
The ageless Alex Goode’s cute grubber sat up just enough for Alex Lewington to cross in the right corner.
And when Manu Vunipola slotted the tough conversion, suddenly Sarries were sniffing a comeback, trailing 18-12 with eight minutes to go.
The hosts threw everything at a reversal, only for Courtney Lawes to pull off a massive lineout steal.
Saints eventually ground down the clock and punted out for the full-time whistle, sealing a big win for Phil Dowson’s men.
