Sarries' late late show

Alex Goode kicked a last-gasp penalty to hand Saracens a dramatic 15-13 Aviva Premiership win at Newcastle on Friday night.

The promising back's match-winning intervention came after the Falcons had come from 9-3 behind to lead 13-12 at Kingston Park, before late pressure from the visitors brought about the chance.

Goode had not been quite so assured with the boot earlier, however, and missed two penalties in two minutes before half time as his side went into the interval 6-3 up.

He had found the target with a second-minute penalty to put the first points on the board before counterpart Jimmy Gopperth missed an easy chance to level four minutes later.

The Falcons' first move of note came when Luke Fielden cut inside and Gcobani Bobo took his pass to fend off two tackles.

However, the ball was spilled on the Saracens 22 as both sets of forwards battled to claim the initiative.

Newcastle's scrum was hanging on but, with Micky Young feeding his forwards, the Falcons again got close to the Saracens 22 before they came in from the side and Goode was able to clear.

Blistering

A breakthrough almost came when Noah Cato embarked on a blistering run through the middle and when Newcastle stepped offside, Goode kicked his second penalty.

The home side again had the chance to respond almost immediately after Andy Saull caught Luke Eves with a high tackle, but Gopperth again missed the target - the ball this time hitting a post.

He was, however, given a chance to make amends two minutes later when Saracens held on in the ruck and this time converted for Newcastle to get on the board at 6-3.

Saracens then forced Alex Tait to take a poor touch and drove the maul for a penalty, but Goode missed the chance to extend their lead.

He was off target once more after another drive led to a penalty on the stroke of half-time.

It was third time lucky though at the start of the second period when another dominant driving maul set up another three-pointer, which Goode this time slotted.

Gopperth also got his act together, pulling it back to 9-6 with a 40-metre shot when Saracens were adjudged offside.

Pressure

Much of the early second half play was in the Saracens half, pressure which finally paid for Newcastle after a line-out when Young slipped through and Eves surged away to send Fielden over.

Gopperth converted for 13-9 before Goode landed his fourth penalty, leaving Newcastle needing to hang on for a full 15 minutes.

They looked like they might do just that but late indiscipline was punished by Goode, who held his nerve to steal the win.