Sarries sharp in bonus point success

David Strettle and Chris Ashton scored two tries apiece as Saracens claimed a bonus-point 30-23 win over Clermont in a thriller.

David Strettle and Chris Ashton scored two tries apiece as Saracens claimed a bonus-point 30-23 win over Clermont in a thriller at Allianz Park.

The England wingers scored a try in each half for Mark McCall’s men, as they just edged home.

Zac Guildford went over twice for Clermont, who will feel they missed a great opportunity after dominating large periods of the game.

The last time these two sides met it was one-way traffic from the moment Brock James was controversially sin-binned in the first half, but this was a much tighter encounter.

Indeed for much of the game, Clermont looked the more threatening side, but Saracens were clinical when they got a sniff, and in the end collected a maximum five points as a result.

Clermont had to settle for a losing bonus point, although with Sale heading to Marcel Michelin next weekend, they will hope to get right back in contention in this group.

Saracens made a dream start when Ashton went over after just four minutes, continuing in the same vein from last year’s competition when he finished as the tournament’s top try-scorer.

It came from great work by Strettle who made ground down the left before finding his fellow winger to cross. Charlie Hodgson’s conversion from out wide missed but Sarries led 5-0.

But Clermont hit straight back and came within inches of a first try when Wesley Fofana cut through the Saracens defence, but couldn’t quite regather his kick through.

However referee John Lacey was playing advantage for a tackle off the ball by Strettle on Aur