Saracens’ unbeaten run in the Guinness Premiership came to an end after losing to their title rivals London Irish 23-19 at the Madejski Stadium this evening.

Brendan Venter’s side led for most of the match after a brilliant start, following a try from Justin Melck, but an Elvis Seveali’i try ten minutes from time sent them to defeat. Saracens remain top of the Premiership but their lead over London Irish has been halved to three points.

The Men in Black recalled England skipper Steve Borthwick to the second row to partner Hugh Vyvyan. Brad Barritt returned at centre for the visitors after being rested for the last three matches. Italian international forwards Matias Aguero and Fabio Ongaro both started for Sarries and former Irish prop Richard Skuse was also brought into the side.

Saracens took an early lead after just three minutes when full-back Alex Goode superbly fired over a drop goal. It got even better after ten minutes when the Premiership pacesetters scored their first try. From an Irish lineout on their five-metre line, Alfredo Lalanne’s clearance was charged down by Vyvyan and Melck reacted quickest to touch the ball down for the breakthrough. Glen Jackson added the conversion which gave Sarries the ideal start.

But the Exiles responded immediately and a surging run from Steffon Armitage set up number eight Chris Hala’ufia who raced clear of the Sarries defence to score. Chris Malone fired over the conversion which brought the hosts right back into contention.

Irish conceded a penalty for offside midway through the half and Jackson drilled over his kick which extended Sarries’ lead to 13-7. But the home side earned a penalty for offside from the restart and Malone booted over the effort to narrow the deficit.

The Exiles were penalised for a scrum offence after 30 minutes and Jackson punished them by firing over another three points. Irish had another chance to get within three points before half-time but Malone’s penalty attempt missed the target.

Irish wasted another opportunity at the start of the second half when Malone sent his penalty effort off-target. Schalk Brits was brought on for the visitors five minutes into the second half in place of Ongaro.

Fly-half Malone was handed yet another chance and he found his range to fire the Exiles within three points of the tabletoppers. But Jackson restored the advantage immediately with a penalty for the Men in Black.

The home crowd groaned as Saracens lined up another drop goal attempt but the jeers turned to cheers as Jackson’s kick went wide of the post. The New Zealand-born fly-half also failed to find the target seconds later after Saracens were gifted another penalty.

Saracens wasted another decent attacking position on the edge of the 22 when former All Black scrum-half Justin Marshall tried his luck at a drop goal but the effort never looked like going over the posts.

Steffon Armitage launched a rare break into Saracens’ half and the visitors were penalised for a deliberate knock on. Malone easily kicked over the penalty in front of the posts which left the Exiles 19-16 down with 13 minutes remaining.

The Exiles went in front for the first time ten minutes from the end when Seveal’i charged towards the line. The pacy centre was tackled but somehow managed to get to his feet and raced clear to dive over the line. Malone sent over the conversion to give Irish a 23-19 lead.

The visitors tried to muster a response but their passes failed to find the target and Irish secured a crucial win in the top-of-the-table clash.

London Irish: D Armitage, Homer, Seveali’i, Mapusua (Catt, 75), Hewat, Malone, Lalanne; Dermody, Paice, Ion (Rautenbach, 62), Kennedy, Casey, Thorpe, S Armitage, Hala’ufia

Saracens: Goode, Penney (Haughton, 72), Ratuvou, Barritt, Wyles, Jackson, Marshall; Aguero (Gill, HT), Ongaro (Brits, 45), Skuse (Nieto, 29), Borthwick, Vyvyan (Botha, 48), Van Heerden, Melck (Saull, 50), Joubert

Scoring: 0-3, 0-8, 0-10, 5-10, 7-10, 7-13, 10-13, 10-16 HT 13-16, 13-19, 16-19, 21-19, 23-19

Referee: Dean Richards

Attendance: 19,734