Saracens win in Philadelphia
Saracens claimed their second win out of three this season as they got the better of Newcastle 29-7 at Talen Energy Stadium in Philadelphia.
The result lifts them up to second spot in the Premiership standings, provisionally at least, as they bounce back from their defeat to Bath. Newcastle, in contrast, suffer their first defeat of the campaign and drop down to fourth position.
Saracens led 13-7 at the break thanks to an early try from USA international wing Chris Wyles which Owen Farrell converted on nine minutes.
Farrell would also add two penalties but wing Vereniki Goneva’s converted try on 26 minutes pulled Newcastle Falcons back into the contest.
England centre Farrell built on their lead soon after the interval with his third penalty and he added a fourth on 52 minutes for a 19-7 cushion.
A breakdown offence from the Falcons saw Farrell step up again five minutes later for 22-7 and the European champions wrapped up the four points six minutes from the end when Goneva’s slap down saw a penalty try awarded.
The scorers:
For Newcastle:
Try: Goneva
Con: Hodgson
For Saracens:
Tries: Wyles, Penalty try
Con: Farrell
Pens: Farrell 5
Newcastle Falcons: 15 Simon Hammersley, 14 Sinoti Sinoti, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Josh Matavesi, 11 Vereniki Goneva, 10 Joel Hodgson, 9 Sonatane Takulua, 8 Nili Latu, 7 Will Welch (c), 6 Mark Wilson, 5 Sean Robinson, 4 Calum Green, 3 Jon Welsh, 2 Scott Lawson, 1 Rob Vickers
Replacements: 16 Santiago Socino, 17 Sami Mavinga, 18 Trevor Davison, 19 Will Witty, 20 Ally Hogg, 21 Sam Stuart, 22 Juan Pablo Socino, 23 Belisario Agulla
Saracens: 15 Alex Goode, 14 Liam Williams, 13 Marcelo Bosch, 12 Brad Barritt (c), 11 Chris Wyles, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Ben Spencer, 8 Billy Vunipola, 7 Schalk Burger, 6 Michael Rhodes, 5 Maro Itoje, 4 Nick Isiekwe, 3 Juan Figallo, 2 Jamie George, 1 Mako Vunipola
Replacements: 16 Christopher Tolofua, 17 Hayden Thompson-Stringer, 18 Kieran Longbottom, 19 Dominic Day, 20 Jackson Wray, 21 Richard Wigglesworth, 22 Nick Tompkins, 23 Sean Maitland
Referee: JP Doyle
Assistant referees: Dean Richards, Paul Burton
TMO: David Sainsbury