Saracens were dealt a pre-match blow when Elliot Daly withdrew with a hamstring problem, but still managed to ease to victory; Nick Tompkins led Sarries in his 200th appearance for the north London club
Last updated: 22/12/24 18:19
Ben Earl (centre) helped Saracens secure a comfortable win over Northampton
Saracens moved up to third in the Gallagher Premiership table with a convincing 39-24 win over reigning champions Northampton at a sold-out StoneX Stadium.
Saints beat the North Londoners three times last season but were never likely to extend that run as a dreadful first-half effort left them with an impossible task.
It was Northampton's fifth defeat in eight league games this season and they now sit 19 points behind joint leaders Bath and Bristol.
Fergus Burke scored two tries for Saracens, with Rhys Carre, Theo Dan, Ben Earl and Jamie George also crossing. Burke added three conversions and a penalty kick for 19 points.
Tommy Freeman, Tom Pearson, Archie McParland and Ollie Sleightholme scored twice for Saints, one of which was converted by Fin Smith.
Making his 200th appearance for the club, Nick Tompkins led Saracens, who were dealt a pre-match blow when Elliot Daly withdrew with a hamstring problem.
Tompkins looked set for an early celebration when he crossed the line after just eight minutes, but his effort was ruled out for offside in the build-up.
Tobias Elliott (centre) is tackled by Northampton's Alex Mitchell (left) and Fin Smith
It mattered little as within three minutes Saracens were in front when Burke took a shot past Tobias Elliot and got to the ball.
That was the only score in a competitive first quarter, but soon after, the home side's try was disallowed. Number 8 Tom Willis forced his way through, but TMO replays showed an earlier strike by Ivan van Zyl.
Saracens kept the pressure on and were rewarded when Wales prop Carre proved unstoppable from close range and then fellow front-rower Dan brushed aside some weak Saints tackles to score his side's third try.
Three minutes before the break, the hosts secured their bonus point when Northampton failed to deal with a chip in front of Van Zyl and Burke collected the loose ball to go over unopposed.
Saracens' Tom Willis (left) tackles Fraser Dingwall
Burke converted to put Saracens 24-0 up at half-time, despite playing into the wind, as Saints failed to score in the opening period of a Premiership game for the first time in almost a year.
Three minutes after the restart, Saints finally got on the scoreboard when Freeman made a strong run to palm away Liam Williams' weak shot to score.
The visitors were further encouraged by Mara Itoje's yellow card for a foul on Tom Lockett, who was injured and had to be substituted.
The Saints capitalized when Pearson crossed but suffered another blow when Emmanuel Iyogun was helped out with a leg injury.
Itoje returned from the sin bin to see George and Earl quickly trying to put a stop to the Saints' comeback hopes.
A better second-half effort from Saints was rewarded with late tries from Sleightholme and McParland to earn them a try bonus point, but the hosts had the final say with a Burke penalty.
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