Sorrell rustles up a kickstart

'We thought he would miss at least a couple of them,' said head coach Zinzan Brooke. 'They were all within fairly easy reach but it was still an exhibition of goalkicking which he will remember for a long time.'

Quins made a substantial contribution towards Sorrell's success, their recurring tendency to pull down mauls formed around Scott Murray's line-out catching accounting for three of the penalties.

The novice kicker's ovation from a crowd of almost 8,000 was followed by another from the players

in the dressing-room. And it was well-earned by the 23-year-old from Essex after he took a leaf out of the goalkicking manual as written by Sarries' former Springbok full back, Gavin Johnson.

Sorrell explained: 'Gavin's attitude to kicking for goal was always the same: "If it goes over, it's a bonus. If it doesn't, don't get stressed about itî. That approach helped me get the job done because I hadn't done any kicking since I was playing second team rugby four or five years ago.'

Sarries can never thank him enough. The win not only puts an end to Pienaar's 'black month' but hoists them back into second place. They are seven points behind Leicester but at least head the pack trying to stop the Tigers from turning the Premiership into another procession. That Saracens did it despite losing England prop Julian White with a damaged neck and starting with Scotland Murray on the bench spoke volumes for their spirit .

The Johnson citing having put Saracens in a proverbial glasshouse, Bracken's team behaved in exemplary fashion, apart from the odd punch or two from Danny Grew-cock. He will have to be careful.

In the end not even a much more recognised goalkicker, Niall Woods, could match Sorrell. Woods' one miss, 12 minutes from time, cost Quins the consolation of a bonus point and ensured Sarries would end their losing run with a bit to spare thanks to the one exhilarating moment provided by Dan Luger half an hour into an otherwise drab affair.

Bursting through off the blindside wing on to Horan's inside pass, Luger handed off former Wallaby lock Garrick Morgan and outstripped the Quins cover on a diagonal run to the left corner.

Luger made it despite a brave tackle by Jamie Williams who ended up ploughing into an advertising board before being carried off with a suspected dislocated ankle and broken leg.