Saracens survived a scare but held on to beat Connacht 17-23 in the Heineken Cup at the Sportsground in Galway on Friday.
Connacht, coached by former Samoa No 8 Pat Lam – a European Cup winner with Northampton in 2000, held Saracens at 17-17 at half-time.
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American centre Chris Wyles and England wing Chris Ashton scored an early brace for Saracens, both converted by Owen Farrell, who also booted a penalty.
But Australian-born ex-Scotland fly-half Dan Parks kicked a penalty and then converted tries by scrum-half Kieran Marmion and South African winger Danie Poolman to keep the poor cousin of Irish provincial rugby very much in the game.
Only two Farrell penalties in a tight second-half separated the teams, with Saracens next up against Toulouse, who picked up a bonus point in a four-try 38-5 mauling of Italians Zebre.
“The defence we showed at the end was brilliant,” said Farrell.
“I think we got it a bit wrong in the first half.
“But it’s always difficult to come away.”
Farrell added: “I think we’ll learn from our mistakes tonight.
“We’ll make sure we’re ready to have a go.”
Connacht (17) 17 / 23 (17) Saracens:
Scorers
Connacht
Tries – Marmion, Poolman
Pen – Parks
Con – Parks 2
Saracens
Tries – Wyles, Ashton
Pen – Farrell 3
Con – Farrell 2
Match Officials
Referee: Pascal Gauzere (France),
Assistant Referees: Alexandre Ruiz (France), Jean-Luc Rebollal (France),
TMO: Daniel Irazoqui (France),
Citing Commissioner: Maurizio Vancini (Italy)
Teams
Connacht Rugby: Gavin Duffy; Fionn Carr, Robbie Henshaw, James So’oialo, Danie Poolman; Dan Parks, Kieran Marmion; Brett Wilkinson, Sean Henry, Rodney Ah You, Michael Swift (c), Craig Clarke, John Muldoon, Jake Heenan, George Naoupu
Replacements: Jason Harris Wright, Peter Reilly, JP Cooney, Ally Muldowney, Andrew Browne, Paul O’Donohoe, Craig Ronaldson, Tiernan O’Halloran
Saracens: Alex Goode; Chris Ashton, Joel Tomkins, Chris Wyles, David Strettle; Owen Farrell, Neil de Kock; Mako Vunipola, Schalk Brits, Matt Stevens, Steve Borthwick (c), George Kruis, Kelly Brown, Will Fraser, Billy Vunipola
Replacements: Jamie George, Rhys Gill, James Johnston, Alistair Hargreaves, Ernst Joubert, Richard Wigglesworth, Duncan Taylor, Michael Tagicakibau.