Saracens 35 Worcester 3: Alex Lozowski steals the show as debutant scores 20 points in opening day rout

Lozowski scores his team's second try during the Aviva Premiership match between Saracens and Worcester
Ben Hoskins/Getty Images
Standard Sport3 September 2016

Debutant Alex Lozowski scored 20 points as Saracens began their defence of the Aviva Premiership with a bonus-point 35-3 victory over Worcester at Twickenham.

Fly-half Lozowski scored a try and booted three penalties and three conversions, with hooker Jamie George, on his 150th appearance, South African back row Schalk Burger, in his first game for the champions, and replacement Ben Spencer also crossing.

Worcester's solitary riposte was a first-half Ryan Lamb penalty as they were overwhelmed for twenty minutes after the break.

The first-half was forgettable. There was a lot of match rustiness as knock-ons and scrummages dominated proceedings, but Saracens had the better of the possession and territory.

England wing Chris Ashton knocked the ball on early in the half when in with a chance of racing down the touchline for a try.

Lozowski got Saracens on the board when debutant Worcester full-back Jackson Willison was guilty of handling at a ruck and the former Wasps player booted his first penalty from 25 metres.

England brothers Billy and Mako Vunipola were constant thorns to the Worcester midfield at first and second receivers but Worcester held their ground and had their own chances.

New signing Ben Te'o, the rugby league convert who went on tour with England to Australia this summer, drove into the Saracens 22 before Alex Goode pulled him to ground.

After Lozowski missed a sitter to put Saracens further ahead, Lamb levelled the game with a 25 metre shot. They were the last points Worcester would score.

The closest either side went to a try in the first half came when England lock George Kruis was just short of the line before Lozowski found the target for a second time on the stroke of the interval.

Within 12 minutes of the re-start, Saracens were away and almost clear. Lozowski booted his third penalty before a drive from an attacking line-out saw Worcester's pack defence disintegrate for George to be almost dragged over the line by Billy Vunipola.

Yet another attacking line-out drive saw Lozowski put into a gap by Burger. He converted his own touchdown.

Worcester prop James Johnston was binned for a high tackle on Lozowski just seconds before Burger grabbed a debut converted try as Saracens began to hit top gear.

And minutes from time, Spencer ran over for Saracens' fourth to get the bonus point to seal their victory and give Worcester a lot to think about before next weekend.

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