SARACENS' season is now hanging by a thread after they crashed out of the Powergen Cup in depressing fashion on Sunday.

Following last week's dramatic exit from the European Challenge Cup, the domestic cup represented the last chance of silverware for the Men in Black, but they are now left with little more than pride, and a Wildcard spot, to play for after being booted out by a Mark Mapletoft-inspired London Irish side Mapletoft, one of four ex-Saracens in the Irish 22, produced a fine exhibition of kicking, landing seven out of nine attempts, including one towering effort from inside his own half, to send Irish, winners of the competition in 2001, into the last four.

Sarries may have scored the game's two tries through Matt Cairns and Kris Chesney, but they paid the price for an error-ridden first-half display and a disastrous performance from Glen Jackson. Ineligible for Europe, Jackson was recalled at the expense of Nicky Little but his brittle confidence was shattered by a straight-forward penalty that sailed wide after just two minutes. The New Zealand stand-off never recovered from that early aberration, missing four of the next six attempts at goal and he cut a disconsolate figure by the end.

Jackson did find his range on 23 minutes, but by that time Sarries had already shipped nine points and Mapletoft then kicked his fourth penalty of the half to put the visitors into a commanding position.

With Jackson in such erratic form Sarries needed a try and it arrived a minute before half-time when a lovely pass from Thomas Castaignede sent Cairns, the hooker, powering over the line. Jackson added the extras to leave Sarries only two points adrift at the break.

A storming run from the outstanding Ben Skirving hinted at a second-half revival by the home side, but Sarries indiscipline allowed Mapletoft to kick three sweetly struck penalties from long-range to extend Irish's lead to 11 points with just a quarter of the match remaining.

Sarries, to their credit, threw everything at Irish in a pulsating finish, but they only managed to cross the line once more through Chesney, on as a replacement for the injured Skirving, as Irish held on, albeit by the skin of their teeth, for a deserved victory.

For a more comprehensive report, plus an interview with Dan Scarbrough, don't miss Friday's edition of the Watford Observer.