The only team to win at the Gardens this season emulated their success of three weeks previous to end the Saints' double dreams and advance to Twickenham to face Leicester who would later overcome Bath 15-6 at Welford Road.

Saracens ran in three tries once more, though the Saints scored two of their own and it was they who made much of the early running, their attacking intent epitomised by strong bursts from Juandre Kruger and Ben Foden, while Roger Wilson worked well at the breakdown and lineout.

It was the number 8 who then brilliantly stole a Saracens lineout on halfway and powered his way into the 22. When he was dragged down, the ball was cynically killed by Jacques Burger and referee Wayne Barnes didn't waste time in blowing up and yellow carding the Namibian. Stephen Myler duly took advantage of the easy three points on offer.

Although the Saints maintained pressure, territory was lost with a pair of lineout penalties and Saracens then struck to stun the Gardens. The relentlessly impressive Brits' midfield break created an overlap on the left, one which Alex Goode made the most of to skip inside Saints defenders and under the posts. Jackson converted and it was the fly half's boot that had earlier taken his side from inside their own 22 into position for the score.

The same boot would receive the next shot at goal, but the 40 metre drop goal attempt drifted wide and another moment of danger passed when Chris Ashton, fielding a ball in behind the Saints defence slipped and almost lost control. The winger just about managed to flick the ball inside to Foden though and Phil Dowson of all people thumped the clearance to touch from hand.

As Saracens got a foothold in the game, Ernst Joubert couldn't stay in touch with the double team attention of Saints defenders and although a risky lineout move almost backfired, tacklers failed to roll away at the breakdown, much to the relief of the home crowd.

With possession switching between the sides, the Saints were the next to create a scoring opportunity, patient phases led to Ashton skipping and speeding through defenders but the slow emerging ball gave Saracens a chance to step in, steal and hack clear.

A superb moment of skill from Goode then almost unlocked the Saints defence, his delicately slid kick and gather released Joubert and then Adam Powell who split tacklers, but the centre's offload succeeded only in finding Myler covering and the Saints ten found touch.

When the Saracens returned in attack, Burger held on in contact but the Saints defenders managed to strip the South African before the referee's whistle went. Countering from deep some outstanding offloading and recycling of the ball from the Saints pack was finished off in emphatic fashion by Soane Tonga'uiha on the left wing. Picking up the ball just inside Saracens' half, the prop showed the pace to outstrip his opposite number before swatting off Goode with ease to finish and produce a fine end to the half.

The second half started with another impressive forwards display, this time in the scrum as the Saints pummelled a penalty out of the away pack. Myler's chance was straight in front again and the extra 15 metres made little difference as he dissected the posts confidently.

More subtle offloading from the Saints in attack provided Myler a drop goal opportunity but the charged down attempt was returned with interest and could well have become a lot worse for the Saints, had Andy Saull not dropped an exchange of passes with Chris Wyles.

Nevertheless, next time Wyles had the ball in hand it was all smiles for Saracens as the winger ran in his sides' second try of the day. The breaks came from Goode again and Hugh Vyvyan, while Jackson was also successful with his second conversion.

It spurred Saracens into running from deep, but although Joubert eluded Saints defenders, when he held on in contact he relinquished a chance at points for Myler, albeit from a full 45 metres out. Distance didn't phase him however and to the delight of the full house Myler had the distance and direction spot on.

After safely gathering the restart, Jon Clarke played it safe with an attack developing and his precise chip forward left Goode with no option but to step into touch on the 5-metre line. Securing the lineout ball, the Saints pack flexed their muscles again and thundered over the line, Brian Mujati finishing the power move.

Myler couldn't find the mark with the wide conversion but the Saints had edged back into the lead in a game that was becoming more tense with every point scored.

With Saracens looking to bounce back, the Saints turned over well and Foden's thumping clearance was as good as the full back's chase, wrapping up Vyvyan and forcing Saracens to dive over the top in an attempt to keep the Saints at bay. Another lineout and surge though ended disappointingly for Saints and relieved the pressure on the away side.

The Saints returned though, Joe Ansbro making his 50th appearance for the club raced 30 metres downfield to threaten Saracens again and although the move fizzled out, Sarries couldn't find a comprehensive clearance as they tried to run from deep.

Though the game was being run down exactly where the Saints wanted it to be, Saracens broke into home territory through Kameli Ratavou and threw everything at the Saints line.

A sustained period of pressure and a couple of penalties advanced them to within touching distance of the vital score and eventually an unstoppable maul bundled over, Brit's the man on the end of the Saracens forwards' delayed response after confirmation with the TMO.

Jackson's conversion was critical and he didn't disappoint the ecstatic visiting support, slotting it straight down the middle.

It all came down to the last play of the game as the Saints recovered their own kick off. With Myler waiting in the pocket, the forwards tried to eek out the yards to assist their fly half's shot for the match. The move was becoming more and more fragmented though and when Myler did receive the ball, he had no room to get his effort away and was hunted down and turned over.

Time was up and all Saracens had to do was find touch, which they did through Justin Marshall to spark wild celebrations at Franklin's Gardens for the visitors once more.

Teams:
Northampton Saints - Foden; Ashton, Downey, Clarke, Reihana (Ansbro 43mins); Myler, Dickson; Tonga'uiha, Hartley (capt) (Sharman 73mins), Mujati (Morris 72mins); Fernandez Lobbe (Lawes 55mins), Kruger; Dowson, Best, Wilson

Scorers - Try: Tonga'uiha; Pens: Myler (3)

Saracens - Goode (Hougaard 72mins); Tagicakibau, Powell (Ratavou 47mins), Barritt, Wyles; Jackson, de Kock (Marshall 72mins); Aguero (Gill 62mins), Brits, du Plessis (Skuse 73mins); Vyvyan, Botha (Ryder 58mins); Burger, Saull (Melck 58mins), Joubert (capt)

Scorers - Tries: Goode, Wyles; Cons: Jackson (2)

Reps - Ongaro, Gill, Skuse, Ryder, Melck, Marshall, Hougaard, Ratavou

Referee:
Wayne Barnes

Attendance:
13,541

Guinness Man of the Match:
Glen Jackson

Timeline:
7mins SARACENS Yellow Burger
7mins SAINTS Pen Myler 3-0
16mins SARACENS Try Goode Con Jackson 3-7
21mins SARACENS Miss DG Jackson
40+1mins SAINTS Try Tonga'uiha 8-7
HALF TIME SAINTS 8 SARACENS 7
43mins SAINTS Pen Myler 11-7
46mins SAINTS Miss DG Myler
49mins SARACENS Try Wyles Con Jackson 11-14
51mins SAINTS Pen Myler 14-14
57mins SAINTS Try Mujati 19-14
77mins SARACENS Try Brits Con Jackson 19-21
FULL TIME SAINTS 19 SARACENS 21