Owen Farrell produced a nerveless kicking display as Saracens avenged last year’s extra-time defeat to Northampton Saints by booking their place in the Aviva Premiership Rugby Final once more.

David Strettle got Sarries off to a flying start but Northampton’s pack responded to win a Penalty Try, before the 2 sides traded scores early in the 2nd half through Jamie George and Tom Wood.

But it was the battle between England flyhalves Farrell and Stephen Myler that ultimately settled this semi-final, with the Sarries man besting his counterpart by 19 points to 14 from the tee – including an ice-cool 77th minute penalty to take the game out of the defending champions’ reach.

It will have gone some way to laying last season’s demons to rest, in which Saints clinched their 1st Aviva Premiership crown at the expense of Saracens after extra-time.

Saints made 10 changes following their defeat to Leicester Tigers last weekend, with all the big-hitters back including Courtney Lawes, Dylan Hartley and Luther Burrell.

Brad Barritt also returned to Saracens’ starting line-up after an injury-hit campaign but it was another change in Strettle who got the ball rolling.

His kick ahead arrowed up the right-hand side and Duncan Taylor won the foot race before offloading back to the chasing Strettle, who gleefully accepted the ball before barging over the whitewash.

Farrell converted and it went from bad to worse for Saints as fullback Ahsee Tuala, down injured while Taylor was making his dart, was forced off the pitch.

However, the hosts lifted more Saracens pressure after Calum Clark brilliantly won a turnover in midfield and James Wilson kicked deep into opposition territory.

Wood won the ensuing lineout and after frenzied defending from the visitors, Mako Vunipola was sent to the sin bin due to his indiscretions in the maul.

After 1 more big push referee Greg Garner signalled for the Penalty Try – this time Farrell the culprit – and Myler slotted over the extras to bring the scores level.

It had been a breathless 1st quarter but Saracens were struggling to come up with a riposte before being sliced open by incisive offloads from Samu Manoa and Burrell.

Nothing came of that move however and Farrell and Myler exchanged penalties as errors crept into each side’s game.

But Sarries were certainly profiting more at the breakdown and Farrell successfully kicked one penalty attempt of the next 2 to nose his side ahead with 32 minutes gone.

Back came the champions and with the clock deep into red, Jacques Burger failed to roll away after his monstrous hit on Ken Pisi and Myler once again tied the game up to end a mesmerising 1st half.

Myler started the 2nd half where he left off, kicking Saints ahead for the 1st time following a lineout drive infringement, but Saracens responded almost immediately from a maul of their own.

George was at the bottom of the pile to touch down and Farrell extended the visitors’ lead to 4 points.

Worryingly for Saints their error count remained high – Tom Stephenson being caught offside and Farrell doing the business from the tee in the 54th minute.

That wasn’t about to deflate Northampton and, trusting in the catch and drive once again after Farrell was pinged for not releasing, Tom Wood applied the final touch.

Franklin’s Gardens was reduced to a hush however when Myler missed the conversion before Farrell notched another 3 precious points with his boot.

Saracens then mounted a rearguard effort to deny Northampton several times before engineering Farrell 1 last shot at goal – and he duly obliged from 40m to send his side into the final, despite a consolatory Myler penalty.

Final Score: Northampton Saints 24 / 29 Saracens

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