Saracens 40 London Irish 3

Chris Ashton scored two tries on his Saracens' debut as they eased to a 40-3 bonus-point triumph over London Irish at Twickenham.

Sarries took a deserved 12-3 half-time lead through the boot of Charlie Hodgson while Tom Homer responded with a penalty of his own for Irish.
The 2011 champions stepped up the pace in the second period as Ashton, Brad Barritt and Nils Mordt touched down to seal a comfortable victory.
Despite controlling the first period, the scoreline could have been tighter for the Watford-based outfit had Homer taken the three other opportunities that presented themselves.
Instead, it was Sarries' dead-eye marksman who provided the difference once again. Having already put his side in the lead with a three-pointer, Hodgson added another after Ofisa Treviranus was sin-binned for the Exiles.
Ashton then made an inauspicious start to his Saracens' career by getting yellow carded and they were made to pay when Homer finally got his side on the board.
However, two more penalties from the Sarries' stand-off took them nine points clear at the interval.
Despite an error-ridden opening half, the game sprung into life in the second period when Ashton made up for his earlier indiscretion by touching down.
He then helped set up the second converted score for Barritt as Saracens moved clear.
Irish tried in vain to get back into the game but, even when Kelly Brown was sin-binned, they struggled to break down a typically strong defence.
And the rout was sealed by two late tries from the England international winger and substitute Mordt, Hodgson adding the extras to both.