Saracens v Northampton Saints LIVE - Gallagher Premiership action as third meets sixth at the StoneX Stadium, with Owen Farrell not included in Sarries' matchday squad

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Northampton Saints recorded a surprise win over defending Premiership champions Saracens, running out 18-12 winners at the StoneX Stadium.

In the first game since Owen Farrell’s shock announcement that he was stepping back from international rugby, the fly-half could only watch from the stands as his club side lost footing in their Premiership campaign, falling to the sixth-placed Exiles in a low-quality affair in north London.

Two penalties from the boot of Fin Smith were the highlight of a drab first half, with both sides exchanging long and high kicks between their back threes, and both defences remained resolute.

Seven minutes into the second half, Saints stretched their hosts left and right, and after a strong break from George Furbank down the left, the ball was swiftly transferred to the right from the boot of Fraser Dingwall, where Ollie Sleightholme gratefully accepted the open try line to dot down and put his side 13-0 up, after Smith had added the extras.

The hosts did similar as Tom Parton found himself in acres of space on the left as Mark McCall’s side looked to hit back, and they made the most of Saints’ 14 men with Alex Coles down injured. Manu Vunipola’s 20-yard pass found the winger, who touched down to add an element of excitement to the encounter.

As Sarries started to hammer on the door, it was the Exiles whose counterpunch won it for them, as Alex Mitchell showed great hands to break through at pace after good work from his fellow replacement Temo Mayanavanua.

Sarries fought back once more after a battling break from Ollie Hartley, before an expert grubber knock from Alex Goode found the onrushing Alex Lewington, who crossed the whitewash after a perfect bounce, as Vunipola’s conversion put the hosts within six.

The Saints defensive line stayed compact, as they ground out an important victory before the European break.

That's it! The clock goes red, and when it does, Saints are in their possession! There's a bit of afters as it's sent into touch, but the visitors have the win! A defining win for Northampton, more than four years since their last win in north London.

... for Northampton. Can they hold out?

A potential Sarries break is halted in its tracks as Vunipola drops it. Smith makes a break for it as he passes the home 22.

Can they snatch that elusive winner?

What a nudge from Goode, and the touch down from Lewington is brilliant! Hartley does well with his carry, and the momentum continues as a fantastic grubber from Goode bounces perfectly for Lewington to dot down. Vunipola adds the extras!

A bolt from the blue as the Sarries momentum is stunted! Great hands from Mitchell, and Mayanavanua releases him, as the two replacements combine. The replacement scrum-half dummies, before touching down to silence the home crowd.

Ollie Hartley looks to drive his way through, but he's shoved into touch. Saints clear, but it's the home side who are in the ascendancy now.

How do they follow up that try? They're really going for the jugular now...

Vunipola hits the post with the conversion, and the deficit remains at eight!

Sarries are on the board, and it's Parton who's got it. They work it really well down the open side with Saints missing the injured Alex Coles, and Vunipola's accurate 20-metre pass out to the wide-open Parton gives the winger an easy run-in.

... as they edge closer and closer to the visiting line. Northampton shove the maul backwards, and Tompkins is marshalled well by Smith and Dingwall. Itoje carries the fight into the sea of white shirts ahead of him.

... and Parton comes across looking for the inside ball. Northampton keep them out once more, but the hosts have the advantage. Itoje breaks through once more, but the referee calls it back once more for not rolling away.

The hosts look for the corner, and van Zyl finds it. They need a try now.

Smith adds the extras, and it's 13-0!

We have our first five-point score, as the Saints stretch Sarries. Furbank breaks well down the left, and they work it back inside through the supporting James as Goode tackles well. Dingwall's cross-field kick finds Sleightholme in acres of space to run it home.

Seabrook charges down the left after good play from the Saints, adding a bit of thrust into a sleepy second half so far. It's halted though as the winger darts inside, and it's dropped.

Both sides are playing a tad clunkily so far. Moves are breaking down, defences are remaining strong, and the packs are going from set play to set play.

... as they work it left towards Sleightholme, who's not seen all that much of the ball so far.