Saracens (6) 21
Tries: Powell, De Kock Con: Jackson Pens: Jackson 3
Harlequins (8) 24
Tries: Strettle, Monye Con: Evans Pens: Evans 2, Luveniyali Drop: Evans
Harlequins beat Saracens in the second game of the Twickenham double-header.
David Strettle scored a first-minute try before a penalty apiece from Glen Jackson and Nick Evans made it 8-3.
A second Jackson penalty and Adam Powell's try gave Sarries the lead but Ugo Monye sliced through for Quins and Evans' boot saw them into a 21-11 lead.
Evans then limped off and although Neil de Kock scored a converted try, Waisea Luveniyali's penalty saw Quins home despite Jackson's late reply.
Strettle has been dropped from the senior England squad after a difficult summer tour to New Zealand both on and off the field.
But he took less than a minute to make his mark on the new season as Quins profited directly from the new Experimental Law Variations to score from a close-range scrum.
With defenders now having to line up five metres behind the back foot of the scrum, Harlequins scrum-half Danny Care had plenty of space to attack the blind-side and send Strettle over in the right corner for an unconverted try.
It was a first half of few opportunities and Quins led 8-6 at the break as former All Black fly-half Evans landed a penalty between two successful shots from Saracens' own New Zealander, Glen Jackson.
Saracens missed the chance to score their first try shortly before the interval when Chris Jack spurned an overlap but Saracens finally made the breakthrough four minutes into the second half.
England Saxons centre Powell cut through the Quins defensive line inside his own half and had enough pace to fend off Monye and stretch past Evans to score a superb 60m try.
However, Saracens' lead was short-lived as Monye scored after scrum-half Danny Care claimed a long line-out throw and flicked a clever inside ball to the winger.
Monye still had two defenders to beat but he sauntered over the line, celebrating Usain Bolt-style as he went under the posts.
Evans converted and added a penalty and a drop-goal from in front of the posts as Quins pulled clear but Saracens came again, Jack drawing the defence down the right wing before slipping the scoring pass to De Kock.
Fijian replacement Waisea Luveniyali slotted another penalty to restore Quins' six-point lead, only for Jackson to respond in kind.
But Saracens could not then manufacture a drop-goal attempt and had to settle for a losing bonus point.
Saracens director of rugby Eddie Jones:
"We would have liked to have won the game. If the field goal would have won the game we would go for it. I think the intention was right.
"We showed a lot of character and a lot of poise to get back into the game and that was a good sign.
"We got one point out of that game. We would have liked to get four but we learned more about ourselves and we will be better next week."
Harlequins boss Dean Richards
"We hardly won a line-out in the first half but we defended very strongly. There are a lot of people who are playing for each other out there.
"Two years ago we wouldn't have won that game because of the decision-making in certain areas.
"We made some quite mature decisions at the right times and that is the sign if a side that is getting better."
Saracens: Scarbrough; Leonelli, Sorrell, Powell, Ratuvou; Jackson, De Kock; Lloyd, Cairns, Johnson, Borthwick, Vyvyan, Jack, Seymour, Owen.
Replacements: Penney for Leonelli (56), Rauluni for de Kock (70), Ongaro for Cairns (76), Aguero for Johnson (76), Skirving for Seymour (45).
Not Used: Visagie, Ross.
Harlequins: Brown, Strettle, Tiesi, Turner-Hall, Monye, N Evans, Care, Jones, Fuga, Ross, Kohn, Robson, Robshaw, Skinner, Easter.
Replacements: Taione for Turner-Hall (70), Luveniyali for N. Evans (64), Brooks for Ross (75), Guest for Easter (75).
Not Used: Croall, J. Evans, Gomarsall.
Att: 52,087
Ref: Wayne Barnes (England).
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