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Last Updated: Sunday, 11 September 2005, 16:04 GMT 17:04 UK

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Saracens 34-16 Leeds

MATCH SUMMARY

Thomas Castaignede scored the first Saracens try

Saracens (27) 34
Tries: Castaignede, Sorrell, Scarbrough, Cairns
Cons: Jackson 4
Pens: Jackson 2

Leeds (3) 16
Tries: Murphy
Cons: De Marigny
Pens: De Marigny, Ross
Drops: Balshaw

Saracens produced a superb first-half display to beat Leeds at Vicarage Road.

The home side started the scoring with Thomas Castaignede's try after six minutes with Kevin Sorrell and Dan Scarbrough crossing before the break.

Leeds had responded with penalties from Gordon Ross and Roland De Marigny but a try from hooker Matthew Cairns put Saracens out of sight on 51 minutes.

Iain Balshaw kicked a drop goal and Chris Murphy touched down for Leeds but it was too little too late.

The game was a personal triumph for Sarries full-back Scarborough, who was involved in the first two first-half tries before skipping through the Leeds defence to score himself on 38 minutes.

It was the England A international's pass that put Castaignede over while he was involved in the fine move that led to Sorrell's try.

Saracens were in control of the whole match and Cairns emerged from a pile of bodies to seal the bonus point just after half-time.

Scarborough's afternoon was in marked contract to Leeds' high-profile signing Justin Marshall who was replaced with 10 minutes to go.

The New Zealand scrum-half, together with stand-off Gordon Ross, could not find the spark to fire the Leeds back line.

The visitors had little to offer and coach Phil Davies will be a worried man following his side's opening defeat to London Irish last week.

And not even Murphy's fortunate score late on when he scooped a loose ball, would have given the Tykes much comfort.

Saracens coach Mike Ford:
"We want to try and achieve something this year and I think it showed today.

"We asked the leaders to step up and Thomas did that for us. There was hunger in all the team.

"It was a massive day for Scabs (Dan Scarbrough). He missed a lot of rugby last year with injuries and he was playing against his old club. It was a great performance."

Leeds director of rugby Phil Davies:
"Saracens know how to pressure teams and how to win games.

"You can't give any team in this competition those opportunities and it ended up being 34-16.

"You can beat yourself up and beat the players up but you have to keep working and keep building the players' belief and resilience."

Saracens: Scarbrough; Haughton, Castaignede, Sorrell, Vaikona; Jackson, Dickens; Yates, Cairns, Visagie; Chesney, Vyvyan; Sanderson, Seymour, Skirving.
Replacements: Harris for Castaignede (60), B. Russell for Vaikona (45), Bracken for Dickens (60), Lloyd for Yates (31), Byrne for Cairns (52), Randell for Sanderson (60).
Not Used: Raiwalui.

Leeds: Balshaw; Snyman, Rhys Jones, De Marigny, Doherty; Ross, Marshall; Isaacson, Rawlinson, Kerr; Hooper, Palmer; Morgan, Thomas, Dunbar.
Replacements: Stimpson for Doherty (71), Biggs for Ross (40), Care for Marshall (68), Cusack for Isaacson (40), Bulloch for Rawlinson (40), Murphy for Hooper (60), Parks for Thomas (40).

Att: 6,190

Ref: Tony Spreadbury (Bristol).

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Report: BBC Five Live's Martin Bayfield


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