Premiership: Harlequins 17-10 Saracens – Quins end derby drought

Sarries racked up 90 points in the two matches between the two sides last season, including 52 in their most recent meeting in March.

However, from the off, the game was fiercely contested by two star-studded sides with fly-half Smith and full-back Leigh Halfpenny returning for Quins, plus Maro Itoje back from a knee problem to skipper Saracens.

After a cagey start, Onyeama-Christie suffered a serious injury driving for the line after a close-range line-out just seven minutes in, leading to a lengthy stoppage.

The 25-year-old missed the end of last season after suffering a broken arm in April but had begun this campaign in style – however, he now looks certain to miss at least Scotland’s autumn international campaign which starts against Fiji at Murrayfield on 2 November.

The Quins defence stood firm against concerted Sarries pressure, despite losing James Chisholm to the sin-bin in the opening 20 minutes.

Then, Saracens’ Ben Earl was penalised for shouting at referee Christophe Ridley during a ruck in midfield, allowing Smith to kick to the corner.

The line-out paved the way for Stephan Lewies to barrel forward and Baxter to eventually plunge over from close range on 27 minutes, with Smith slotting the conversion to make it seven points from Quins’ first visit to the Saracens 22.

Juan Martin Gonzalez was also forced off for Sarries but the Quins defence stood up to a fresh onslaught from the visitors as they repelled phase after phase and won a series of key penalties at breakdowns.

The Sarries pressure resumed after the break and Quins’ resistance was eventually broken when Tizard dived over from close range after more than a dozen phases of pressure on 48 minutes, with Lozowski adding the extras.

It took just four minutes for Quins to get back in front, however, as Smith darted through midfield and offloaded to Will Porter who flung the ball wide right for Anyanwu to scorch over the line.

Tobias Elliott saw a break down the Sarries right ended by another fine tackle from Halfpenny as he sought a fourth try in as many appearances while Lozowski missed a penalty attempt after Joe Launchbury was penalised for going over the top just after the hour.

Smith made no mistake at the other end after Earl was penalised nine minutes from time, slotting the hosts into a 10-point lead and though Lozowski set up a tense finale with a penalty three minutes later, Quins kept their visitors at bay.