Saracens suffered a major setback to their hopes of reaching the Guinness Premiership play-offs after losing 19-12 at Leeds Carnegie this afternoon.

Sarries’ third consecutive league defeat was enough to take Leeds off the bottom of the table and ask serious questions about their top-four credentials. Brendan Venter’s side held a narrow lead at half time but a second-half try from Lee Blackett propelled Leeds to a hugely significant result at both ends of the Premiership.

The visitors made six changes to the side which lost at home to Bath last weekend. Italian prop Matias Aguero returned to boost the scrum with Schalk Brits starting at hooker. Rodd Penney was promoted to the backline with Michael Tagicakibau on the bench and Jacques Burger and Justin Melck were picked in the back row. Tom Ryder also earned a spot in the second row for the trip to Yorkshire.

Saracens opened the scoring in the eighth minute when Derick Hougaard kicked a penalty right in front of the posts. The former Springbok fly-half extended their lead three minutes later when he found enough space and accuracy to boot over a drop goal.

Leeds created their first decent opportunity when Scott Mathie charged towards the line but Burger halted the attack with an excellent tackle. But the Men in Black replied with an exceptional break instigated by Alex Goode which the hosts did well to survive.

The Premiership strugglers conceded another penalty after 23 minutes but Hougaard was wayward with his attempt. Henry Fa’afili almost got to the tryline after a direct attack and the run eventually led to a penalty for Carnegie. But they wasted the chance to reduce the scoreline as the kick struck the post.

Saracens have struggled at the set piece in recent weeks and referee Dean Richards penalised their scrum awarding a penalty to Leeds. But replacement fly-half Joe Ford again failed to find the target.

Instead of finding themselves level heading into half time, Leeds were soon trailing 9-0 after Hougaard punished them with another drop goal. But Carnegie got on the scoreboard with a penalty from Ford to gain some momentum for the second half.

Sarries conceded another penalty from their scrum at the start of the second half and Ford kicked Leeds to within three points. The Men in Black responded by working their way up to the other end and Leeds gave away another penalty. Hougaard never looked like missing as the visitors restored their six-point cushion.

Leeds were handed another opportunity from a kickable penalty but Ford was unable to find the target again. The youngster did not have to wait long for another chance to make amends and he fired the hosts back within three points.

With 20 minutes remaining, Leeds took the lead for the first time when Seru Rabeni charged towards the line. The centre was tackled but the hosts recycled the ball and a neat offload enabled Blackett to cross the line. Ford added the conversion which gave them a 16-12 advantage.

Both sides were reduced to 14 men midway through the half when Brits and Andy Titterrell were ordered off for a brawl. Former Leeds scrum half Justin Marshall was given a frosty reception after entering the fray in place of Neil de Kock with 16 minutes remaining.

The hosts wasted the chance to put some distance between the sides when Ford was off-target with another penalty.

Richards awarded a penalty to Sarries but the home side were up in arms over an alleged late tackle by Tagicakibau which was not spotted. The crowd jeered Hougaard as he stepped up and it may have unsettled him as he could not find the target.

Saracens were getting ragged in their desperation to fight back and they fell further behind with time running out when Ford fired over a long-range drop goal. The hosts had all the late pressure as Sarries struggled to hold on for a losing bonus point as their dramatic loss in form continued.

Saracens: Goode, Penney (Tagicakibau, 55), Ratuvou (Powell, 77), Barritt, Wyles, Hougaard, De Kock (Marshall, 64); Aguero (Gill, 52), Brits (Reynecke, 77), Skuse (Mercey, 77), Smith, Ryder (Botha, 52), Van Heerden, Burger, Melck (Joubert, 52)

Leeds Carnegie: Hinton, Fa’fili, Rabeni, Barrow (Hepworth, 58), Blackett, Thomas (Ford, 24), Mathie; MacDonald, Titterrell, Gomez (Swainston, 55), Lund, Wentzel, Myall (Clark, 53), Fourie, Oakley

Scoring: 0-3, 0-6, 0-9, 3-9 HT 6-9, 6-12, 9-12, 14-12, 16-12, 19-12

Referee: Dean Richards

Attendance: 4,301