Saracens blitzed by 7-try Exiles
November 23, 2001

London Irish, the surprising package of the season, moved to just one point behind Zurich Premiership leaders Leicester with this demolition job of Saracens.

Exiles, who ran in a massive seven tries for the second time in four days to claim a 55-13 victory, got off to an explosive start when Paul Sackey touched down with less than a minute on the clock.

Scrum-half Darren Edwards executed a perfect one-handed reverse pass to feed Sackey. Barry Everitt converted. Hooker Maco Drotske then touched down four minutes later following good work from fellow forwards Mike Worsley and Keiron Dawson.

Luke Smith hit back for Saracens with a penalty but opposite number Everitt went better converting three to give London Irish a 20 point lead after 26 minutes.

The home side finally scored on the half hour when a powerful drive from a lineout saw young prop Luke Harbut muscle his way over. Smith converted to reduce the deficit to 13 points, but Irish are made of strong stuff this season and responded again, this time Justin Bishop running in a try before the break.

And after the interval Saracens could only play second fiddle as Irish followed up their their blistering first half with four more tries.

Substitute Ed Thrower touched down after 57 minutes for the crucial bonus point try before Jason Wright and Chris Sheasby touched down. Everitt then rubbed salt into the home side's wounds with his own try after 78 minutes to bring his personal tally to 25 points.

Saracens: Tries: Harbut. Cons: Smith. Pens: Smith 2.
London Irish: Tries: Sackey, Drotske, Bishop, Thrower, Wright, Sheasby, Everitt. Cons: Everitt 4. Pens: Everitt 4.

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