SARACENS will take a 13 point lead to France on Sunday after they overcame former Heineken Cup winners Brive at Vicarage Road in the first-leg of the European Challenge Cup quarter-final.

A first-half try from replacement wing Paul Bailey and 14 points from the immaculate boot of Nicky Little secured a result that extends the Men in Black's unbeaten run to five matches, but Sarries will need a repeat of Sunday's indomitable defensive display and another commanding performance from the forwards if they are to defend their lead and book their place in the last four.

Sarries were dealt a double just hours before kick-off when Thomas Castaignede (calf) and Kyran Bracken, the inspiration behind last week's win over Bath, both failed late fitness tests, but the Men in Black did welcome back Little for the ineligible Glen Jackson and the Fijian kicked them into an 11th minute with a long-range drop goal.

The fly-half added a penalty five minutes later and then, after Brive's John Welborn had been sin-binned, converted Bailey's try on the half-hour. Bailey had only been on the field for a matter of minutes after replacing the injured Richard Haughton, but he got on the end of move, created by a sublime break from Mark Bartholomeusz, to score his third try of the season.

The set-peice, particularly the scrum, generated enough possession for Sarries to have crossed the line on at least two more occasions, but they were plagued by a number of handling errors that brought an to end a host of threatening moves.

In the end, the Men in Black were forced to rely on the boot of Little who swapped nailed two second-half penalties, but, although they failed to break a Sarries' defence that has now conceded just one try in three matches, Julien Laharrague gave Brive hope for an intriguing second leg by slotting two penalties either side of the last quarter.

"A score of 19-6 was probably a fair reflection to be honest," confessed head coach Steve Diamond. "Obviously we would have been happier with another try or two, which we should have scored but I think we dropped the ball eight times."

For a more comprehensive report, plus interviews with Thomas Castaignede and Simon Raiwalui, don't miss Friday's edition of the Watford Observer.