Saracens all but sealed their place in the Heineken Cup quarter finals after edging to a 20-16 win over Biarritz at Vicarage Road this afternoon.

The Premiership champions trailed Biarritz early on but a mistake from the visitors enabled Ben Spencer to score his first Saracens try. Owen Farrell’s reliable boot helped give them a deserved 14-6 lead at the break.

Biarritz were handed a lifeline in the second half when a clearance was charged down by Dimitri Yachvili and his converted try brought them within a point of Sarries. But the hosts held out to move within a point of qualification for the last-eight.

Director of rugby Mark McCall made two changes to the side for their pivotal match against their French opponents. Forwards Carlos Nieto and Kelly Brown both returned to the team in place of Matt Stevens and Jackson Wray.

The Men in Black were caught offside after ten minutes and the visitors took the lead through Yachvili’s penalty. But the score was immediately cancelled out as new England star Farrell kicked Saracens level.

Saracens were penalised inside their own half after 15 minutes and France international Yachvili punished them by restoring Biarritz’s lead.

A costly mistake from Biarritz enabled Sarries to take the lead with the opening try. The away side lost possession in the midfield and David Strettle kicked the ball through. Ernst Joubert charged towards the line and, after offloading to Chris Wyles, the ball eventually fell to Spencer who dived over for his first try for the club.

Farrell was unable to find the target with the conversion but Sarries had at least taken the lead for the first time after a difficult first quarter.

Saracens were looking increasingly dangerous with pace and power to their attacks. Their pressure told as Biarritz conceded another penalty which Farrell kicked over to extend their lead to five points.

Another penalty from Farrell pushed Sarries into a 14-6 lead and they ended the half strongly in the ascendancy.

The visitors finished the half by missing a penalty through Yachvili to leave them with plenty to do in the second half.

Biarritz badly needed to put early points on the board but they wasted one opportunity with a woeful drop goal attempt.

But Biarritz were handed a way back into the contest midway through the second half from a mistake by replacement Peter Stringer. His clearance was charged down and Yachvili raced through to score. The scrum-half added the conversion to bring the visitors within a point of Sarries.

The Men in Black responded with a vital kick from Farrell which stretched their lead to four points. But the French side replied quickly as Yachvili’s penalty made it a one point game.

It was a very tense finale as Biarritz pressed for a late winner heading into the final five minutes. But a penalty from Farrell sealed the win which moved them to the brink of a last-eight place.

Saracens: Goode, Strettle, Farrell, Barritt, Wyles, Hodgson, Spencer (Stringer, 54); Gill, Smit, Nieto (Stevens, 63), Borthwick, Botha (Kruis, 54), Brown, Saull, Joubert (Wray, 67)

Biarritz: Balshaw, Ngwenya, Giminez, Traille, Bolakoro, Bosch (Peyrelongue, 54), Yachvili; Barcella (Marconnet, 48), Terrain, Gomez Kodela, Thion, Taele, Lauret, Guyot, Faure

Scoring: 0-3, 3-3, 3-6, 8-6, 11-6, 14-6 HT 14-11, 14-13, 17-13, 17-16, 20-16

Referee: George Clancy