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Saracens have been the dominant force in Premiership rugby this season, winning game after game in ruthless fashion. The shine on the halo might have dimmed slightly after Saturday's defeat by Leicester, but Sarries will be back to full strength for the clash with Harlequins and aiming for a third victory over their London rivals this term.
While their opponents have been sitting pretty at the top of the Premiership, Harlequins have had to work hard just to reach the semi-finals. A narrow 19-16 victory over Bath on the last day of the season saw them sneak into fourth after a stop-start campaign from a squad packed full of England stars. Quins' tails will be up after their late surge into the play-offs, but their record against Saracens is poor this season, with the 39-17 defeat at Wembley in March a particularly painful memory.
With the Heineken Cup looming, Saracens are going to be busy boys in the next seven days and, while it might be clutching at straws, the distraction of Europe could play into Harlequins' hands.
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| 1 |
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Some late team news - Mouritz Botha is out with Alastair Hargreaves starting
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| 3 |
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Physical start to the game with Saracens putting in a host of big tackles early on. Jacques Burger is penalised for catching Monye in the air and eventually Quins get a kickable penalty
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| 5 |
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Penalty to Harlequins - Nick Evans draws first blood with a penalty. Good start to the game for Quins
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| 8 |
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Penalty for Saracens - all square at Allianz Park as Farrell punishes Harlequins
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| 9 |
0 - 3 |
Flood - penalty goal
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| 12 |
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Well this game has opened up. Harlequins make a break but Farrell counters and carries the ball into Quins' 22. Frantic stuff.
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| 13 |
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First TMO incident. Schalk Brits hits a jumping Kyle Sinckler and although it looks ugly, Wayne Barnes deems there to be no intent and we play on
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| 14 |
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Owen Farrell has a shot at the posts but he hits the upright and Brown manages to scramble clear
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| 17 |
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Penalty for Saracens - Owen Farrell gives Saracens a narrow lead with three points from the tee
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| 17 |
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Penalty for Saracens - Owen Farrell gives Saracens a narrow lead with three points from the tee
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| 21 |
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Neat little sidestep from Alex Goode sees Saracens make some yards but they are pinged for holding on
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| 22 |
3 - 3 |
Myler - penalty goal
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| 24 |
3 - 8 |
Card time at Saracens with Marcelo Bosch sin-binned for a tip tackle
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| 25 |
3 - 10 |
Nick Evans' radar is slightly off as he slices his penalty to the right of the posts
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| 28 |
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Big old session of aerial ping pong as the two sides exchange kicks and eventually Neil de Kock hoofs it into touch
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| 29 |
6 - 10 |
Matt Stevens sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on - Sarries down to 13
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| 32 |
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Try for Harlequins - Ugo Monye is the man holding the ball as he crashes over from close range after a looping pass from Evans who then adds the extras
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| 34 |
6 - 15 |
Try for Saracens - Despite being down to 13 men, Saracens get their try as Kelly Brown backs himself to score as he fends off the attempted tackle from Charlie Matthews. Farrell misses the conversion
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| 35 |
6 - 17 |
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| 38 |
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Marcelo Bosch lines up a monster penalty but he cuts it to the right of the sticks. Just one point in this one
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| 40 |
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Try for Harlequins - Well that's great timing from Harlequins. Brown wins a footrace to dot the ball down and Evans adds the extras
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| 40+1 |
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Evans adds the extras and Quins are six points to the good at half-time
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| 40+2 |
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Little scuffle as the players walk to the tunnel - it seems Ashton has annoyed the Quins players by shouting at Nick Evans when he was taking the conversion
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| 41 |
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Harlequins' Dave Ward and George Robson penalised and Farrell has a chance to cut the deficit
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| 42 |
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But Owen Farrell misses the kick
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| 45 |
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| 46 |
9 - 17 |
Myler - penalty goal
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| 47 |
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Sarries are really struggling from the kicking tee today - they are two from six
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| 52 |
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Try for Saracens - Brad Barritt strikes for Saracens as he exploits poor defence to grab an essential try. Farrell adds the extras
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| 55 |
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Luke Wallace runs straight across Chris Ashton and the penalty is awarded to Saracens.
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| 56 |
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Penalty for Saracens - Owen Farrell re-finds his radar and Sarries have a healthy four-point lead
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| 58 |
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Saracens have a try ruled out as Bosch is deemed to be offside when Danny Care's kick was charged down
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| 60 |
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Saracens are trying to turn the screw here but Burger's offload, with Wyles screaming for the ball, was forward
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| 61 |
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Try for Saracens - It is Ash Splash time as Ashton darts over after great work from Kelly Brown
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| 62 |
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Farrell knocks over the extra two and Harlequins have it all to do
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| 64 |
14 - 17 |
North - try
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| 65 |
16 - 17 |
England and Harlequins fans hold their breath as Mike Brown looks to have picked up an injury. Despite him hopping around, he stays on
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| 66 |
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Carnage in Barnet as Borthwick, Monye and Brown all hobble off
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| 68 |
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| 71 |
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Harlequins attempt to get some territory but Evans' pass to the rampaging Danny Care goes forward
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| 72 |
16 - 20 |
Williams - penalty goal
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| 73 |
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Penalty for Saracens - Owen Farrell stretches the lead to 14 points and that's probably the game
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| 77 |
21 - 20 |
Wood - try
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| 80 |
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In the end Saracens' power proved to be too much for Harlequins with Billy Vunipola the deserved recipient of the Man of the Match award
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