An Owen Farrell-inspired Saracens handed Harlequins a first Aviva Premiership defeat of the season and director of rugby Mark McCall believes his side have re-discovered their values of hard work.
But a place-kicking shootout between the two tens was only half the story at the Stoop as scrum half Danny Care went over for a try and Saracens might have had one of their own for Chris Ashton but for the bounce of the ball.
Although that was the closet Sarries would come to crossing the whitewash McCall was content with the performance after frank discussions between players and management in midweek.
Sarries lost to Exeter Chiefs last week 14-12 and McCall said: "It's a big relief to win and it was also a big relief when you think that we've kind of lost ourselves a bit recently.
"We had a meeting on Monday where we talked about our values, what we were about as a club and whatever way the game went I just thought we found ourselves today.
"We were back to what we're about - fighting hard for each other and there was a real energy from one man to the next and that was the most pleasing thing for me."
Sarries' result meant Northampton Saints kept their place at the top of the Aviva Premiership, which they earnt with a 24-6 Friday night victory over London Wasps.
Aside from the result there were plus points all over the park for director of rugby Jim Mallinder who saw young full-back James Wilson step in expertly for injured England international Ben Foden by scoring two tries.
Courtney Lawes also showed himself to be back to his best with a stellar performance from blindside flanker but the players who were occupying his normal role of lock, Manu Samoa and Christian Day, were equally impressive in Mallinder's eyes.
"We want competition all over the field and James [Wilson] has made that spot his own with Ben Foden being away," said Mallinder.
"He (Lawes) is still probably not quite match fit for the full 80 minutes but some of his tackling was fantastic.
"I think we have an abundance of talent. Samu Manoa is now playing for 80 minutes which is fantastic in the second row for us and then Christian Day and Mark Sorenson are the brains for us so it is great when they call the line-out so we have good strength in there."
London Welsh were denied a third straight Aviva Premiership win by Gloucester Rugby - going down 31-25 at the Kassam Stadium.
Welsh lost both Neil Briggs and Sonny Parker to injury in the first half but were leading with 15 minutes to play thanks to 20 points from fly-half Gordon Ross and a try by prop Franck Montanella.
But a Freddie Burns penalty and a try from replacement Shaun Knight, converted by his fly-half, handed the Cherry & Whites victory. But Welsh's head coach Lyn Jones was still happy with his side's efforts.
"Turning around 18-9 with a couple of bad injuries, we were up against it - lesser teams would have crumbled but we fought hard," said Davies.
"There was a penalty in front of the posts with three points begging, and then another one with 15 to go - we came close to their try line several times and just didn't score."
Worcester Warriors romped to their first victory of the season against London Irish at Sixways with a score of 35-11.
Tries from Aleki Lutui, David Lemi and Semisi Taulava set the home side on their way before replacement Jon Clarke scored in the final act of the game to seal a bonus point.
The Exiles scored the first try of the game through No. 8 Ofisa Treviranus but fly-half Andy Goode was in a different class to steer Worcester to victory.
Goode's former club Leicester Tigers shook off their first loss at home in 11 months against Harlequins last week by beating Exeter Chiefs 30-8 at Welford Road.Summer signing Adam Thompstone notched a hat-trick in his first start for his new team and Toby Flood kicked three penalties and three conversions.
The Chiefs scored a consolation try at the death through Ben White from close range but Ignacio Mieres was too inconsistent with the boot to give his side a serious chance of victory.
Olly Barkley bade farewell to Bath Rugby with a performance which underlined why he has been one of the Premiership's top backline operators of the past decade.
The fly-half kicked 16 points against Sale Sharks in his last game at the Rec before joining up with Racing Metro as a medical joker.
Bath's other points came from prop David Wilson, captain Stuart Hooper and a penalty try while Sale could only manage a penalty and a conversion from fly-half Nick Macleod and a try from centre Johnny Leota.
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