David Strettle notched Saracens’ third try hat-trick in their Heineken Cup history to condemn Connacht to a record tournament defeat. Charlie Hodgson orchestrated the mammoth victory from the outset, making the most of the Vunipola brothers who continually punctured the Irishmen’s defence.

Dan Parks had put Connacht ahead inside five minutes with a penalty from 40 metres out, but Saracens hit back straight away. Chris Ashton connecting with Hodgson’s fizzing pass to go over in the corner.

Parks nudged the away side back in front with his second penalty but they were struggling to handle Saracens’ powerful runners, coordinated by the irrepressible Hodgson. The home team had 19 gain line successes within the first 19 minutes and, with the Connacht defence in disarray, Strettle crossed in the corner for his first try.

Connacht were continually thwarted in their attempts to gain quick ball, and as frustrations grew Nathan White was sin-binned for reckless use of the boot at a ruck. Schalk Brits scored from the resulting lineout at the back of an efficient driving maul to take the half time score to 18-6.

The floodgates opened in the second half for Saracens as they scored twice in the opening 10 minutes, England full back Alex Goode making the most of poor Connacht kicking with some potent counter attacking.

It was only to get worse for Pat Lam’s men as Saracens cut through to score five tries in the final 15 minutes. Strettle completed his hat-trick with a clever chip through before Ashton finished off the rout with his signature swallow dive to grab his second and increase his club European record to 10 tries.

Saracens have now qualified as one of the two best runners up and will face a stern away test in the last eight. But they will march into the knock-out stages on the back of overtaking their previous best try haul in a Heineken Cup match of 10 against Viadana in the 2007/08 season.