SARACENS will start 2008 still poised for a tilt at the Guinness Premiership title despite stumbling to a 22-19 defeat at home to Newcastle Falcons this afternoon (Sunday).

A crown of 17,223 - the Men in Black's biggest since March 1998 - witnessed a strangely subdued Saracens trailed 6-15 at the break thanks to tries from Matthew Tait and Toby Flood with Jonny Wilkinson adding a penalty and conversion.

The hosts' points came via the boot of fly-half Gordon Ross which, in all fairness is all the throngs of home supporters had to shout about in a first half that Newcastle dominated.

Half-time Sarries replacement Glen Jackson ensured his side struck first blood 10 minutes into the restart with an easy penalty and, with just under 20 minutes left, Men in Black skipper Neil de Kock crashed over to make it 14-15.

Lady luck shined on de Kock for the second week running, the Springbok following up his 'did he or didn't he?' effort at Quins last week with another debatable score. However, unlike Tony Spreadbury, referee Sean Davey had the luxury of a television match offical who handed Sarries a lifeline.

It looked as if Saracens had won it when Hugh Vyvyan breached the Newcastle defence with seven minutes left but Falcons skipper Jamie Noon's late try ensured Newcastle ended 2007 with a flourish as they registered their first away league win since November 2006 and their first at Vicarage Road since 2001.

Saracens suffered an early setback when England full-back Tait raced over on the left after taking up a neat line for Toby Flood's sleight of hand pass which left the Sarries defence flatfooted. Wilkinson added the extras.

Ross reduced the arrears with an easy penalty, three points which should have be erased when Wilkinson was given the chance to go for goal, however England's golden boy showed his is human after all as his kick, slightly to the right of centre just inside the Sarries half, sailed unceremoniously wide.

Ross then fluffed his lines in front of the posts, as did Wilkinson again as the frenetic pace of the opening 10 minutes slowly ebbed away.

Springbok speedster Brent Russell was then called into action, mopping up and clearing the danger as Flood bore down on a grubber kick to the left corner.

However, things got worse for Sarries on 22 minute just after hooker Fabio Ongaro was sent to the cooler for collapsing a maul.

Newcastle could not find a way through the middle but, with Sarries soaking up the pressure in the centre, scrum-half James Grindall pinged the ball out left where Falcons had men queuing up. Flood exchanged passes with blind-side flanker Brent Wilson to touch down for 3-12.

The visitors were more snappy and tenacious at the breakdown and almost took advantage of a spilled Sarries ball. After second row Andy Perry had gained 15 metres the ball was chipped long to Tom May, however the right wing was denied a dash to the line by an unkind bounce.

There was little action to shout about thereafter for the remainder of the first half until Ross and Wilkinson, at the third time of asking, exchanged penalties during the closing stages.

That was Ross's final contribution to the game, the ineffective Scot replaced by the evergreen Glen Jackson.

And the blue-booted Kiwi wasted no time making his presence felt, Tait bearing the brunt of a full blooded tackle before Falcons coughed up a penalty at the hosts' 22.

Twinkle toed prop Cencus Johnston then took exception to some after by Falcons lock Mark Sorenson before Falcons skipper Jamie Noon epitomised his side's bruising defending with a pummeling hit on Richard Haughton.

Sarries continued to press before Jackson ensured their efforts did not go unrewarded with a 49th minute three pointer.

Sarries made another unforced error, this time via Brent Russell before they carved out their most promising attack of the game.

After All Black lock Chris Jack had danced through a gap on the right Rodd Penney collected his offload before sliding his way across the whitewash. However, TV replays clearly showed the excellent Tait held up the wing.

From the scrum five Sarries foraged, persisted, held their nerve and dragged themselves to within a point of the visitors when de Kock barged over, despite the efforts of Jon Golding to hold the skipper up.

With the wind in their sails and finally showing the composure they lacked in the first half, Sarries kept plugging away and took the lead for the first time when Hugh Vyvyan crashed over on the right after fine cross-field play from Kris Chesney, Jackson, de Kock and a neat offload from Russell.

Jackson failed to add the extras but that was the least of Sarries' worries as the Falcons spread their wings again when Noon darted over after taking Wilkinson's neat pass into his fierce stride. Wilkinson converted and while Sarries made a last ditch attempt to win it the visitors held on.

Saracens: Russell, Haughton, Sorrell, Powell, Penney, Ross, de Kock (cpt); Yates, Ongaro, Johnston, Vyvyan, Jack, Chesney, Seymour, Gustard.

Replacements: Kyriacou for Seymour, 23;Seymour for Kyriacou, 31; Jackson for Ross, 40; Kyriacou for Ongaro, 63; Visagie for Johnston, 68.

Referee: Sean Davey.

Attendance: 17,223.

Scoring sequence: 0-5/0-7/3-7/3-12/6-12/6-15 HT/9-15/14-15/19-15/19-20/19-22.