Leeds Carnegie and Saracens battled out a ten try EDF Energy Cup clash at Headingley Carnegie but the home side only had a try scoring bonus point for their efforts.
Leeds made an encouraging start at Headingley Carnegie with a good break by Rhys Oakley putting Saracens on the back foot and eventually causing the visitors to concede a penalty. Alberto Di Bernardo put his indifferent form from the previous weeks defeat at Bristol behind him and gave his side an early 3-0 lead after just two minutes.
Saracens responded well to that early set back and levelled the score just four minutes later when Leeds were penalised for hands in at the ruck and Gordon Ross kicked the penalty from 25 metres out against his old club.
Leeds had a lucky escape after 13 minutes, England Sevens international Dave Seymour cut throw the home defence and but was pulled down 15 metres short of the line by Kearnan Myall, amongst others. However, it appeared in vain as the ball was recycled and moved wide to Edd Thrower who appeared to have enough time and space to score in the corner but for a brilliant cover tackle by Di Bernardo to force the winger out in the corner.
However, the visitors did not take their foot off the gas and after several scrums on the Leeds line, they worked a clever run around move involving Alan Dickens and Ross, before Dickens popped up a pass to the onrushing Rod Penney to crash over from close range. Ross added the conversion from in front of the posts to make it 10-3 after 17 minutes.
Both teams were scrapping hard at the breakdown and referee Changleng from Scotland was having to keep an eye on both sets of forwards. Leeds finally managed to secure some quick ruck ball after 25 minutes and they made it count.
Rhys Oakley took up the initial drive before offloading to debutant Appo Satala. The Fijian dragged two defenders to him and kept on his feet before passing to Jon Goodridge, who unselfishly shipped the ball onto Erik Lund to score in the corner. Di Bernardo was just wide with his conversion attempt but the score was now only 10-8 to Saracens.
Leeds could have taken the lead with eight minutes remaining in the half. Andy Tuilagi marked his return to the starting line up with a great break from 25 metres out but was just forced out as he dived in at the corner.
As it was Saracens were able to extend their lead on 35 minutes through the boot of Ross. Leeds seemed to be harshly penalised for interference at the ruck and were then marched ten metres back for back chat. Ross coolly added the points from 40 metres out to make it 13-8.
Leeds had to withstand some heavy pressure towards the end of the half but they came up with an answer at each stage and went in at the break just five points behind.
For the second week running, Leeds scored first at the start of the second half when Alberto Di Bernardo kicked a penalty from close in however just like the previous week Leeds were hit with two sucker punches soon after.
Almost straight from the re-start former Leeds centre Craig McMullen took advantage of some weak defence to finish off a 25 metre move and then Rodd Penney scored his second try of the night after coming onto a short ball near the line. Ross converted both to make it 27-11 to the visitors after 50 minutes.
However, that was just the start of a scintillating second half that ended with eight tries in total including three more for the home side to secure their first try bonus point of the season.
The first came after 57 minutes when Mike MacDonald finished off a fine break by Leigh Hinton. The winger burst through and was only just pulled down short of the line by Richard Haughton however the giant American was on hand to crash over. Di Bernardo's conversion made it 18-27 and the game was back in the balance.
However, once again Saracens scored two quick tries to pull away from Stuart Lancaster's side. Edd Thrower scored a breakaway try down the wing after 60 minutes and then Mosese Rauluni was alert at the base of a scrum to burst through and go over untouched from 20 metres out. Ross converted both to make it 18-39 after 64 minutes.
Credit to Leeds, they never threw in the towel and came back once again. There was a popular score for debutant Scott Armstrong moments after he had come on as a replacement and then the best Leeds try of the night was scored by another on his first outing; Appo Satala. The Fijian burst down the Main Stand side and held off the tackle of countryman Rauluni to touch down in the corner. Di Bernardo was unable to convert either score so Leeds still trailed 28-39 with six minutes remaining.
The tenth and final try of the game scored in the last moment when Kevin Sorrell took advantage of a loose ball and ran round to score under the posts. Ross kicked his fifth conversion of the night to make the final score 46-28 to Saracens.
Leeds: Goodridge, Hinton, Rock, Tuilagi, Satala, Di Bernardo, Brooks, MacDonald, Parkes, Pala'amo, Lund, Myall, Paul, Clark, Oakley
Replacements: Hopcroft for Pala'amo (49), Ma'asi for Parkes (54), Bouza for Lund (65), Stitcher for Clark (65), Edwards for Brooks (55), Blackett for Tuilagi (62), Armstrong for Hinton (68), Pala'amo for MacDonald (66)
Saracens: Haughton, Van der Merwe, Penney, McMullen, Thrower, Ross, Dickens, Lloyd, Ongaro, Mercey, Chesney, Ryder, Gustard, Seymour, Hall
Replacements: Kyriacou for Ongaro (57), Liffchak for Mercey (70), Vyvyan, Barrell for Hall (HT), Rauluni for Dickens (57), Sorrell for Penney (55), Cato for Thrower (75), Barrell for Gustard (BB39 rev HT)
Referee: Malcolm Changleng (Scotland)
Attendance: 2,639