Autumn had well and truly arrived come kick off with a nip in the air and rain coming down. But this didn't stop Saracens trying to run the ball out from their own 22 after receiving the kick off. And when Brian Mujati conceded a penalty for not releasing the tackled player it looked like that policy would give the hosts good territory.

Derick Hougaard's touchfinder was wayward, however, and Ben Foden returned the kick with interest. And even though Saints fumbled an attempted turnover just outside Saracens' 22, they won a scrum back and turned on the power to win a penalty. Shane Geraghty converted, and though Hougaard levelled the scores three minutes later the visitors' fly half was on target again in the 11th minute to keep Saints' noses in front.

The lead could have been greater though. Superb counter rucking had won Saints the ball back deep in home territory and when Geraghty slid the ball through it looked for all the world as if Bruce Reihana would be over. But the slippery ball proved too much to handle and the visitors instead had to be content with just the three points.

Although Geraghty missed a couple of opportunities to extend this lead, sending both a penalty and drop goal left of the uprights, he was having a good game, taking advantage of the conditions with a series of up-and-unders and well placed kicks to the corner.

The chasers were doing their job too, forcing their former club mate Nils Mordt to miss the ball on several occasions. There were several chargedowns too, with one resulting in a TMO call when Tom Wood was a finger length away from touching down, and another giving the visitors a five-metre scrum.

Again the power earned a penalty and three more points for Geraghty. But again Saracens were given an opportunity themselves right from the kick off, this time for obstruction, and again Hougaard was able to add three points to their tally. The South African tied things up with a long-range drop-goal a minute later, but regardless Saracens were fortunate to be in touch given the balance of play thus far.

However things can change quickly in rugby, and often do, and when Calum Clark was sent to the sin bin on the half-hour Saracens were not only put in front for the first time by Hougaard's third penalty but they were a man up, too.

Fortune seemed to now be smiling on Saracens, with a Geraghty touchfinder bouncing six inches on the wrong side of the corner flag. Instead of being able to pressurize the home line Saints were defending a scrum 15 metres inside their own half. Ernst Joubert broke from the base, Saints came in from the side and Hougaard took the score up to 15-9.

The scoring wasn't over for the half though, with Geraghty punishing Brad Barritt's coming offside with his fourth penalty. And with Hougaard's last-ditch drop-goal dropping short the teams headed to dry off with Saracens leading 15-12.

Having been so secure under the high ball in the first half, Saints' concentration wavered immediately after the resumption of play. Saracens recovered, the visitors came offside and Hougaard had his next three points. Unfortunately it also set the tone for the next 20 minutes.

The introduction of Schalk Brits and Michael Tagicakibau had noticeably upped Saracens' tempo. But the conditions were tailormade for forward play and when Saints won a penalty from a powerful maul it looked like this would be an effective alternative to running play at every opportunity.

Unfortunately the next lineout didn't go quite to plan, with Saracens winning a turnover. And when the hosts used the same tactic it paid dividends, giving Hougaard another shot at goal. Like its predecessors this went straight between the sticks, and with having had none of the play whatsoever thus far in the half Saints were nine points down with 25 minutes to go.

Things certainly weren't going well. Geraghty sent a raking touchfinder straight into touch and in the 58th minute became the second Saint to see yellow, in doing so also giving Hougaard a simple opportunity slot another three points.

Even when Saints were able to string together some promising movement they could get no reward. Reihana managed to find the first hole in Saracens' defence and sent Joe Ansbro to the line. The centre was pulled down short, but while the support was quick in coming so were the covering defenders, who forced a crucial fumble as the Saints powered to the line.

Even the scrum proved fallible. After mauling their way fully 30 metres to the home line - calling the TMO into action once again - Saints were driven off their own ball at the subsequent five-metre set piece.

Saracens held out the next attack, too, holding a maul out and stopping the subsequent fringe attacks as they headed across the field.

There were moments of imagination from the Saints, Stephen Myler sending Paul Diggin away with a neat chip and the forwards combining well close to the right touchline.

But while all their effort paid off with a last minute Diggin try that at least earned a bonus point it was too little, too late for the Saints and Aviva Premiership Rugby's last unbeaten record was gone.

REFEREE Dave Pearson

ATTENDANCE 8,567

TIMELINE
5mins SAINTS Pen Geraghty 0-3
8mins SAR Pen Hougaard 3-3
11mins SAINTS Pen Geraghty 6-3
16mins SAINTS Miss pen Geraghty
17mins SAINTS Miss DG Geraghty
22mins SAINTS Pen Geraghty 3-9
24mins SAR Pen Hougaard 6-9
26mins SAR DG Hougaard 9-9
30mins SAINTS Yellow card Clark
31mins SAR Pen Hougaard 12-9
35mins SAR Pen Hougaard 15-9
39mins SAINTS Pen Geraghty 15-12
40mins SAR Miss DG Hougaard
HALF-TIME SARACENS 15 SAINTS 12
42mins SAR Pen Hougaard 18-12
53mins SAR Pen Hougaard 21-12
58mins SAINTS Yellow card Geraghty
58mins SAR Pen Hougaard 24-12
80mins SAINTS Try Diggin 24-17
FULL-TIME SARACENS 24 SAINTS 17