JAMIE GEORGE SCORED two tries as Saracens struck an early blow in the race for the Premiership title with a 30-14 victory over Wasps at Allianz Park on Sunday.
Wasps have set the early pace in the English top flight, winning all five of their matches ahead of this weekend’s trip to defending champions Saracens.
But the hosts – on the receiving end of a 64-23 hammering in this fixture last season – restricted Wasps in the first half before pulling clear after the interval.
The bonus-point win lifts Saracens two points clear of Wasps at the summit.
Mako Vunipola powered over from close range following a lineout to get Saracens off the mark in the fourth minute and it was the hosts who applied most of the early pressure.
Wasps, who were at their confident and free-flowing best in a 47-18 victory over Harlequins last time out, were not being allowed to play by Saracens, and a rare charge towards the opposition 22 ended in disappointment as Nathan Hughes knocked on.
But Saracens were struggling to build on their early score and a lack of discipline opened the door for Wasps to get on the scoreboard.
Jimmy Gopperth split the posts to pull Dai Young’s men within two, before former Wasps fly-half Alex Lozowski re-established the cushion. It took a moment of real quality from Danny Cipriani to spark the Wasps attack into life.
The visiting number 10 found a gap on the Saracens 22 and danced past the otherwise excellent Billy Vunipola before spreading left for Josh Bassett to go over.
Mike Ellery’s try in the corner on the stroke of half-time ensured Saracens had the lead at the break, but the boot of Gopperth kept Wasps in touch at 16-14 in the early stages of the second period.
That was until Saracens put the visitors under sustained pressure on their own try line with just over 10 minutes left to play, allowing George to emerge from the back of a ruck to burrow over.
George’s try looked to have swung the match decisively in Saracens’ favour, and the England hooker – a second-half replacement for Schalk Brits – doubled his tally to wrap up the bonus point after Bassett had been sent to the sin bin for a high tackle on Brad Barritt.
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