Five-try Saracens nil Leeds Carnegie

Saracens denied basement dwellers Leeds Carnegie the chance to close in on Newcastle as they defeated the Yorkshiremen 39-0 on Sunday.

Leeds's survival hopes were dealt another savage blow as Saracens coasted to a comfortable bonus-point victory in the Aviva Premiership at Vicarage Road.

The visitors arrived in Watford reeling from the shock axing of director of rugby Andy Key earlier this week.

And they never recovered from a woeful start which saw Sarries cross the line inside the second minute through Michael Tagicakibau, who pounced on a poor defensive kick to crash over for the first of his side's five tries.

Alex Goode, who kicked 14 points, added the conversion and in the eighth minute last season's beaten Premiership finalists claimed their second touchdown when some slick handling allowed Brad Barritt to go over.

Goode again added the extras and the game was already up for Leeds.

Saracens, in buoyant mood having won at Northampton the previous week, edged further ahead thanks to two penalties from Goode.

And it came as no surprise when they breached Leeds' line again on the stroke of half-time when James Short touched down for a try which Goode again converted.

At 27-0 down at half-time, the game was effectively beyond Leeds but Saracens refused to ease up as scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth touched down for his fourth try in the 46th minute to secure a bonus point.

Leeds began to steady to ship but the game was already well beyond them and Saracens rubbed salt in their wounds with a fifth try.

In the 72nd minute, Chris Wyles waltzed through some shambolic attempted tackles to scamper clear for a try which Goode converted.

The scorers:

For Saracens:
Tries: Tagicakibau, Barritt, Short, Wigglesworth, Wyles
Con: Goode 4
Pen: Goode 2

Saracens: 15 Alex Goode, 14 James Short, 13 Michael Tagicakibau, 12 Brad Barritt, 11 Chris Wyles, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Richard Wigglesworth,8 Ernst Joubert, 7 Andy Saull, 6 Justin Melck, 5 Hayden Smith, 4 Steve Borthwick, 3 Carlos Nieto, 2 Jamie George, 1 Rhys Gill.
Replacements: 16 Schalk Brits, 17 Jared Saunders, 18 Matt Stevens, 19 Hugh Vyvyan, 20 Jackson Wray, 21 Neil de Kock, 22 Rodd Penney, 23 Noah Cato

Leeds Carnegie: 15 Leigh Hinton, 14 Lee Blackett, 13 Henry Faafili, 12 Scott Barrow, 11 Michael Stephenson, 10 Adrian Jarvis, 9 Warren Fury, 8 Alfie Tooala, 7 Hendre Fourie, 6 Kearnan Myall, 5 Marco Wentzel, 4 James Craig, 3 Phil Swainston, 2 Steve Thompson, 1 Mike MacDonald.
Replacements:16. Phil Nilsen,17 Gareth Hardy, 18 Juan Gomez, 19 Daniel Browne, 20 Jacob Rowan, 21 Scott Mathie, 22 Ceiron Thomas, 23 Luther Burrell.