Derick Hougaard kicked Saracens to a 24-17 victory at Vicarage Road as they ended Northampton Saints’ winning start to the season.

Northampton enjoyed the better of the first half hour but their early lead was quickly eroded by a remarkably consistent performance from the boot of Saracens’ fly-half. Hougaard scored 24 points, which featured seven penalties and a drop goal, as Sarries got the upper hand over one of their Premiership title rivals.

Brendan Venter handed Nils Mordt his debut for the Men in Black at full-back after Alex Goode was ruled out with a shoulder injury picked up in last week’s win at Leeds. Justin Melck was also forced to sit out the game with a rib injury so Kelly Brown returned to the back row.

The hosts were penalised at the breakdown after four minutes and Shane Geraghty’s penalty deflected in off the post for the first three points of the game. Saracens were awarded their first penalty within a couple of minutes and Hougaard booted his side level.

The visitors should have scored the first try after ten minutes when Geraghty’s low kick found Bruce Reihana but the wing fumbled the ball on the line. The referee called play back for a penalty and Geraghty’s kick restored the Saints’ lead.

Saracens’ lineout was turned over and they were penalised for a scrum infringement but Geraghty blasted the penalty wide of the post. The Men in Black had a lucky escape midway through the half when Hougaard’s kick was charged down and Tom Wood raced towards the line. The fly-half managed to chase back and between him and Neil de Kock they were able to prevent a Northampton try.

The Saints were dominating territory and possession and a penalty after another scrum offence gave the visitors an easy three points in front of the posts. From the restart, Sarries attacked and the Saints conceded a penalty. Hougaard fired over the effort to move Saracens within three points of their opponents.

Saracens equalised in the 27th minute when Hougaard showed great composure to arrow an accurate drop goal between the posts. The visitors were reduced to 14 men ten minutes before the break when Calum Clark was shown a yellow card and Hougaard’s penalty fired Sarries in front for the first time.

Northampton were punished again as they conceded another penalty which the consistent Hougaard converted to extend Sarries’ lead. The visitors received another penalty just before half time and Geraghty’s kick kept them within touching distance of Saracens.

Mordt endured a difficult debut and Venter replaced him at the break with Michael Tagicakibau. He also introduced Schalk Brits in place of Ethienne Reynecke. The Men in Black made a positive start to the second half and their pressure led to an easy penalty for Hougaard under the posts.

The Saints conceded another penalty in the 53rd minute and Hougaard’s superb afternoon continued with his effort from the right touchline sailing over. To add to the Saints’ woes Geraghty was given a yellow card halfway through the second half for a breakdown offence and Hougaard slotted over his seventh penalty of the game.

Northampton still kept pushing for a try which could earn them a bonus point but the hosts’ defence was holding them at bay. But their persistence paid off with a try in the final minute from Paul Diggin earning them a hard earned losing point.

Saracens: Mordt (Tagicakibau, HT), Strettle, Ratuvou, Barritt, Wyles, Hougaard, De Kock (Wigglesworth, 51); Carstens (Parr, 75), Reynecke (Brits, HT), Nieto (du Plessis, 51), Borthwick, Botha (Smith, 66), Brown, Burger, Joubert

Northampton Saints: Foden, Diggin, Ansbro (Clarke, 73), Downey, Reihana, Geraghty (Myler, 68), Dickson; Tonga’uiha, Hartley, Mujati, Sorenson (Wilson, 62), Day, Clark, Wood (Easter, 73), Dowson

Scoring: 0-3, 3-3, 3-6, 3-9, 6-9, 9-9, 12-9, 15-9, 15-12, 18-12, 21-12, 24-12, 24-17

Referee: Dave Pearson

Attendance: 8,567