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 Smith back at fly-half for Quins 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.

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WORLD Grand Prix semi-finalist Dimitri Van Den Bergh has revealed he was offered the opportunity to appear on The Masked Singer in his homeland.

The Belgium No1 was beaten 5-2 by fellow countryman Mike De Decker on Saturday night at Mattioli Arena, Leicester.

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The pair have been sharing an Airbnb this week, and the defeated Van Den Bergh was asked if he would make a good housemate in the Big Brother house in an interview with Boyle Sports.

Van Den Bergh, who was mocked by Luke Humphries earlier this year, revealed: “Big Brother, that’s a step too far.

“You’ve got basically no privacy anymore, they’ve got 24 hours livestreams so everyone is literally being watched. That’s a bit extraordinary, taking it over the top.

“Funnily enough, in Belgium I’ve been asked already to do a few shows, including The Masked Singer.

“I don’t know if I would be really good at it but I definitely would have a lot of fun.

“All of these people, the way they’re dressed, their costumes, a bit of singing – I don’t even know if I’m good at, but it would be fun.”

Van Den Bergh went on to say fans believed he had already appeared on the show in disguise.

He continued: “Last year – there is something called a mushroom in English – it’s different in Belgium, it’s champignon, that’s what they call it. It almost sounds like champion. And they were making this image as if it was me.

“So many people were asking if I was in it, if I was doing it and I just tagged along. I really was making people believe I was in the suit.

“The biggest reason I’m not in these shows is because I’m a professional darts player and the Tour is just very busy when they do all the episodes at this time when we’ve got all the Majors. So it never plans out right.”

Back in July, world number one Humphries defeated The Dream Maker at The World Matchplay in Blackpool.

On his way to victory he managed to have a bit of fun as he teased his opponent.

With the match in the balance at 11-10 in Humphries’ favour, Van den Bergh produced a brilliant 180 to leave just 52 to finish.

The Belgian celebrated his 180 by shrugging his shoulders boastfully, apparently confident he was about to get back level.

Up stepped Humphries knowing a failure to check out 106 would likely see Van den Bergh win the leg.

His first dart missed its treble 20 target but he remained composed to hit treble 18 before finishing on double 16.

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Then came something unexpected from Humphries, who is famous for maintaining a cool and controlled demeanour – something which does not win him favour with fans.

As Humphries went to collect his darts he mimicked Van den Bergh’s shoulder shrugging celebration with a big smile across his face.

The Detroit Lions made a statement in their 47-9 blowout over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, and Tom Brady is definitely sold on the idea that Jared Goff & Co. are once again Super Bowl contenders — if not favorites — this season.

When asked by FOX NFL Sunday studio analyst Howie Long after the game if the Lions are the best among the eight teams he has seen in person this season, Brady did not hesitate.

“Absolutely,” Brady said. “I just think their ability to play on offense — there’s so many styles to play. They’ve got this two-headed monster [David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs] at [running] back, creative play-calling. Everybody’s involved. They got [wide receiver Kalif] Raymond involved. 

“Gibbs played, he played pretty well today, but at the same time, it wasn’t this electric performance that we’ve seen from him. They got [Amon-Ra] St Brown, [Sam] LaPorta. They just have weapons, and obviously it all starts with that offensive line. The way they dominate the line of scrimmage, you can get any pass rush, Goff is back there surveying the field. They just seem like they got everything rolling. And on defense, they’re up there challenging people. They’re playing man coverage, challenging every single play. And it’s frustrating when you’re a quarterback and there’s no easy throws out there.

“They’re going to be tough to stop. I think they’ve got a lot of humility in that locker room. They got a lot of guys that are playing for one another. … Man, the Lions are a tough team to beat.”

Brady also holds a special affinity for Goff. The two have much in common beyond just their shared history at quarterback, as they both grew up in Northern California and spent impactful parts of their careers in Michigan — Brady in college with the Wolverines and Goff currently with the Lions after an up-and-down stint with the Los Angeles Rams to start his career.

Tom Brady says Lions are the best team he’s seen this year after dominant win vs. Cowboys

“I went through a very similar experience — I was a California kid, I went to the Midwest, to Michigan,” Brady told Kevin Burkhardt during the game broadcast. “And that fan base, in Michigan, they love football. And they’re supporting Goff in the same way that I felt supported when I was at Michigan. It toughened me up, made me a better player. And when I see Goff out there, I love the chip on his shoulder. I hope he never loses that because that resilience, determination, is so critical to long-term success.”

Things are very different for football fans in Dallas, however. Brady has been on the call for all three of the Cowboys’ home games, and in each one, Dallas has fallen behind by more than 20 points and ultimately failed to come away with the victory. Two of those losses, including on Sunday, have come in blowout fashion.

“I think that the number one issue is their ability to run the football,” Brady said. “And I said early in the [broadcast] that maybe the best way to do it is throw the ball early and then open the run game up, because you’ve done a good job spreading the field, and now they’ve got to play pass defense. 

“And I think they’ve tried to start these games trying to be balanced, but the problem is, when they’re not producing in the run game, a quarter-and-a-half into the game, they’re down 14. They’re down 17. Now they are one-dimensional, and the other team has made them one-dimensional. I would like to see them start the game a little more pass-happy, a little more pass-oriented, try to get a lead. They actually had a decent drive here to start the game, settled for a field goal, then they turn the ball over on their next red-area possession. But that was more of the right idea.”

The Cowboys go into their Week 7 bye at 3-3 with a lot to clean up. The Lions, meanwhile, head into a massive showdown with the undefeated division rival Minnesota Vikings (1 p.m. ET next Sunday on FOX and the FOX Sports App.)

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Ford star Matthew Payne and Triple Eight veteran Jamie Whincup led the times in the opening day’s practice sessions for Sunday’s Bathurst 1000.

But the talking point of the day was that Whincup’s teammate, points leader Will Brown, is looking at a tough weekend after co-driver Scott Pye smashed their Chevrolet Camaro at The Cutting late in the afternoon session.

“Young bloke, cold tyres…” said Pye, after causing the session to be red-flagged.

“I just lost the rear and it was game over. I feel bad for the crew, they will have a long night. It went in pretty hard but at the end of the day, it was my mistake. They have to work hard now to fix my screw-up.”

Payne looked very strong in the morning session with the best lap of the day, a 2m07.29s, leading a Ford 1-2 ahead of Tickford Racing’s Cameron Waters. Brown led the Chevrolets in third place ahead of Cameron Hill’s Matt Stone Racing entry.

Matt Payne, Penrite Racing Ford Mustang

Photo by: Supercars

Triple Eight Chevrolets topped the afternoon session, exclusively for co-drivers, which was delayed and then cut short firstly by an oil clean-up from a previous support event and then for the safe removal from the track of what appeared to be a brown snake at Forrest’s Elbow…

Whincup led a bloc of five Chevrolets, but not in the way many may have expected. Whincup, a four-time Bathurst winner, edged out rising star Cooper Murray, who is sharing T8’s wildcard entry with veteran Craig Lowndes. Jordan Ojeda was third fastest ahead of Erebus Motorsport teammate Todd Hazelwood and PremiAir Racing’s David Russell.

It was a big day with an early start in the Ford camp, six of the Mustangs getting new engines fitted with revised, GT3-based crankshafts; both Dick Johnson Racing and Grove Racing cars and one each of the Tickford and Walkinshaw Andretti entries.

The changes were necessary after a rash of unexpected recent crank failures that led to a world-wide search to secure the new Mexican-made units and a hurried 1000km testing program.

The WAU team had a setback on the track as well, with Lee Holdsworth missing most of the final session when the Ford he is sharing with Chaz Mostert was parked with an engine problem.

The Supercars will return to the Mount Panorama track on Friday for two one-hour practice sessions, the first at 10:05am Australian Eastern Daylight Savings Time, and then at 1:05pm. The all-important 40-minute qualifying session, which will set the grid for the 11th to 26th fastest cars, is due to start at 4:15pm.