Saracens defeat the current champions to book their final place against Tigers

Saracens had to survive three second-half yellow cards to beat champions Harlequins 34-17 at the Stonex Stadium on Saturday lunchtime.

Alex Dombrandt and Danny Care put Quins nine points up after 20 minutes, but Sarries hit back to take a narrow 15-12 lead at the break.

Within seconds of the restart, Saracens increased their points in the board when Ben Earl went over. Despite Quins having a one man advantage for 24 minutes, the Londoners only had a Cadan Murley try for their efforts.

The hosts put the icing on the cake when the outstanding Earl went over on the stroke of full time for his hat trick and to seal a superb second half from Saracens and make it six finals in their last Premiership campaigns.

In a fiercely competitive and a times quite niggly affair, it was the visitors who put the first points on the board when Dombrandt went over from a maul to give the reigning champions the perfect start.

Saracens had to settle for an Owen Farrell penalty to get them on the board. A moment of brilliance from Marcus Smith who danced through a gap before putting Care to dot down.

Saracens were quick to respond when Earl brushed aside two defenders to cross for his 11^th try of the season.

The visitors had Jack Walker sent to the bin for a high tackle. Saracens made the extra man count when Nick Tompkins went over from close range as they took the lead for the first time as they took a 15-12 lead into the break.

Straight from the kick off, Earl went over to give Saracens a useful cushion after Farrell converted.

The hosts were beginning to get on top and increased their advantage when Vincent Koch shrugged of a tackle to send in Aled Davies to score.

Some ill discipline from the home side saw Quins up the tempo, but despite Murley’s try the hosts held firm with some outstanding defensive work.

Saracens wrapped up victory on the stroke of eighty minutes when Earl- who was voted the Gallagher Premiership player of the season earlier this week- had a simple run in to bring up his hat trick and send Saracens into the Final where they will face Leicester Tigers at Twickenham on Saturday.

Saracens  34    Harlequins  17

Gallagher Premiership Semi-Final Saturday 11^th June 2022

 Peter Moore at the StoneX Stadium

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