Flyhalf Owen Farrell kicked 19 points as Saracens beat Northampton 29-20 in their European Champions Cup quarter-final at Allianz Park on Saturday.
Northampton led 10-6 at the break, but a late surge by Saracens in the second half put the game beyond the visitors.
Farrell kicked a penalty goal before Saints wing Ken Pisi scored the opening try, with flyhalf Stephen Myler adding the extras.
Farrell and Myler then traded penalties as the Saints took a 10-6 lead into half-time.
The flyhalves again traded penalties after the break before Saracens wing Chris Ashton went over for their first try in the 69th minute. Farrell converted to put the home side in front 19-13 with 10 minutes to play.
Farrell kicked another penalty goal before converting wing Chris Wyles’s late try to give Saracens a 16-point lead, all but securing the win.
Flank Courtney Lawes scored just before full-time for the Saints, but it was scant consolation.
Saracens – Tries: Chris Ashton, Chris Wyles. Conversions: Owen Farrell (2). Penalties: Farrell (5).
Northampton Saints – Tries: Ken Pisi, Courtney Lawes. Conversions: Stephen Myler (2). Penalties: Myler (2).
Saracens – 15 Alex Goode, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Duncan Taylor, 12 Brad Barritt (c), 11 Chris Wyles, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Richard Wigglesworth, 8 Billy Vunipola, 7 Will Fraser, 6 Jackson Wray, 5 George Kruis, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Petrus du Plessis, 2 Schalk Brits, 1 Mako Vunipola.
Subs: 16 Jared Saunders, 17 Richard Barrington, 18 Titi Lamositele, 19 Alistair Hargreaves, 20 Michael Rhodes, 21 Neil de Kock, 22 Marcelo Bosch, 23 Ben Ransom.
Northampton – 15 Ben Foden (c), 14 Ken Pisi, 13 George Pisi, 12 Luther Burrell, 11 Jamie Elliott, 10 Stephen Myler, 9 Kahn Fotuali’i, 8 Teimana Harrison, 7 Ben Nutley, 6 Courtney Lawes, 5 Christian Day, 4 James Craig, 3 Paul Hill, 2 Mikey Haywood, 1 Alex Waller.
Subs: 16 Reece Marshall, 17 Campese Ma’afu, 18 Gareth Denman, 19 Victor Matfield, 20 Michael Paterson, 21 Tom Kessell, 22 JJ Hanrahan, 23 Harry Mallinder.
Photo: Dan Mullan/Getty Images