Smith saves scrappy Sarries

Aussie star Tim Horan scored Saracens' lone try

Saracens 34-30 Gloucester

New signing Luke Smith kicked Saracens to their first win of the season, but Gloucester made the home side scrap for it.

The fly-half, who only joined the Vicarage Road club as cover for the injured Jannie de Beer, had a perfect day with the boot to help his side hold off a spirited Gloucester revival.

Smith, who landed a total of nine penalties, had three successful kicks within the first 10 minutes.

Tim Horan, appearing in his first game of the season, then added to Saracens' nine points with a 13th minute try under the posts thanks to good work from Scott Murray and Tom Shanklin.

Gloucester's Ludovic Mercier hit back with three penalties, but Smith replied with three of his own to give Sarries a 25-9 half-time lead.

But the Kingsholm outfit stormed out of the blocks after the break, and they dominated possession in the first 10 minutes with a barrage of attacks on Saracens' line.

Gloucester were finally rewarded for their efforts when Olivier Azam muscled his way over for a converted score.

The sides exchanged penalties before Gloucester new boy Daren O'Leary became the next man on the scoreboard with a 69th minute try.

But Mercier missed the conversion to leave Saracens a one-point cushion with just 10 minutes remaining.

Smith however did not bow to the pressure and despite another Mercier score kicked the final two penalties of the match to hand Saracens victory.

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Saracens: Harbut, Russell, Phillips, A. Benazzi, Murray, Hill, Roques, Cole, Bracken, Smith, O'Mahony, Sorrell, Horan, Shanklin, Winnan.
Replacements: Parkes, Cairns, Roche, K. Benazzi, Walshe, Sparg, Arasa.

Gloucester: Collazo, Fortey, Pucciarello, Fidler, Eustace, Boer, Hazell, Paramore, Yachvili, Mercier, Albanese, Stoica, Ewens, O'Leary, Catling.
Replacements: Gomarsall, Mannix, Simpson-Daniel, Woodman, Azam, Pearce, Cornwell.

Referee: Nigel Yates (RFU)