Saracens 20 Biarritz 16

A first-half try from Ben Spencer was the catalyst behind a nervy victory for Saracens over European rivals Biarritz.

Biarritz took the lead in the tenth minute courtesy of a Dimitry Yachvili penalty awarded following an infringement at the line-out. Saracens were back on level terms quickly thanks to the boot of Owen Farrell, but Yachvili kicked the visitors in front for a second time almost immediately. The hosts got the first try of the game to take the lead at the end of the first quarter. Farrell's kick forward was gobbled up by team-mate David Strettle and on the next phase Ben Spencer was able to find space to dive over in the corner. Farrell was wide with the conversion but Saracens held an 8-6 advantage, and they gave themselves breathing space before the interval courtesy of two more penalty goals. The first was awarded on 29 minutes after Biarritz kicked the ball out of the scrum and then, minutes before half-time, Farrell added his third goal following another infringement at the scrum. The second-half remained scoreless until the hour mark when the visitors got back to within a point of Saracens. Yachvili was the man to get over the line following a kick charge-down, and he added the conversion to make it 14-13. Nervous minutes followed for the hosts, with Farrell's penalty to give Saracens breathing space immediately cancelled-out by that man Yachvili. But there was to be no final score from Biarritz, with Farrell's fifth penalty goal of the afternoon in the dying seconds ensuring the win for Saracens.