Sarries too strong for Metro
Saracens' dominant first half ensured their experiment of staging a home Heineken Cup match overseas was rewarded with a 30-13 victory over Racing Metro at King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels.
The London club will be content to return to Belgium on the strength of a performance that puts them in control of Pool One, denying Racing a bonus point in the process.
While plans to take group games against Edinburgh and Munster to Cape Town and New York have been frustrated, they were able to entice Racing to the Belgium capital.
An estimated 2 000 fans made the journey across the North Sea as part of their ambition to explore new territory until the opening of Allianz Park, their under-development north London stadium, next February.
And Saracens ensured their journey was worthwhile as they established a 20-3 interval lead that Racing, with former England back Olly Barkley pulling the strings at 10, were unable to overhaul.
Tries from Chris Wyles and Steve Borthwick put the 2011 Aviva Premiership champions in the driving seat, but their opponents were only fully subdued by Will Fraser's touchdown four minutes from time.
A crowd of 18,202 saw the superb Charlie Hodgson kick 15 points, missing just one shot at goal, while lock Steve Borthwick and centre Brad Barritt both enjoyed fine afternoons.
But it was hooker Schalk Brits who finished with yet another man of the match award, mainly for the magical skill that led to Wyles' opener.
Only a last-ditch tackle from Barkley prevented winger Wyles, who had been put into space by Barritt's long pass, from crossing in the second minute.
Barkley and Hodgson exchanged penalties before Wyles invited pressure on Saracens by running from his own 22, enabling number eight Jacques Cronje and wing Benjamin Fall to counter-attack.
Racing pulverised the home scrum five metres out, but when the ball was spun wide Fall just failed to gather Fabrice Estebanez's astute chip.
Saracens surged ahead in the 21st minute after the dazzling skills of Brits sent over Wyles, who was making his 100th appearance for the club.
The South African raced through a gap, handed off one Racing defender and side-stepped another before slipping the scoring pass to Wyles, who was perfectly positioned in support.
Seven minutes later and Saracens were further ahead, Borthwick crashing over next to the posts following several phases that started with Chris Ashton marauding into space.
Hodgson landed both conversions, almost wriggled through an opening he created and then slotted a penalty as the Premiership club continued to dominate.
Racing openside Bernard Le Roux was sin-binned for illegally preventing scrum-half Neil de Kock from distributing the ball and Saracens' control extended into the second half.
Estebanez knocked on with the line at his mercy and it took until the 58th minute for the next points to arrive, via the boot of Hodgson.
Racing touched down for the first time after Masi Matadigo and Juan Martin Hernandez combined to send winger Juan Imhoff scorching over, giving hope of a final-quarter fightback.
Those hopes hardened when Gaetan Germain booted a penalty with 10 minutes left as the momentum began to shift behind the French club.
Smart rugby saw Saracens kick for the corners, however, and they were able to produce a third try when Fraser sliced through a ragged defence, with Hodgson converting.
