Dick Best, London Irish's director of rugby, said that even after this significant victory over a side which had led the league on Saturday morning, his nomadic team still had a mountain to climb.
His opposite number Francois Pienaar would have felt the same. This long season may still be stuck in the foothills, but after peaking with two early victories it was time to trough in Silicon Valley.
London Irish were not going to be denied the chance to celebrate their second successive move in two years in this, their first game in Reading. If moving house is supposed to be a traumatic experience, it was difficult to tell from this match. No sooner were the packing cases hauled into the Madejski stadium than the housewarming party began, and it was Saracens who returned home with the hangover.
The Exiles may have 18 new players this season but they looked more familiar with each other than Saracens, who gave a curiously disjointed performance, error-strewn and lacking the conviction of their early wins over Gloucester and Bristol.
Thomas Castaignede, who had slipped home to get married the previous week, also found time to peroxide his hair. His display was as eye-catching as his blond locks. The Frenchman scored all his side's points, including a first-half try when he glided typically and effortlessly through the Irish defence, and an outrageous drop-goal from 50 metres.
But the rest of the Saracens' backs had an off-key day. They were not helped when their Australian outhalf Duncan McRae limped off midway through the match with an injured knee that makes him doubtful for Wednesday's visit by Wasps.
Saracens, lacking in their midfield, are counting down the days to Thursday when another Australian who is no stranger to knee injuries, Tim Horan, arrives at Watford.
Irish fully deserved their victory, tearing into Saracens from the kickoff. Their debutante wing, the 20-year-old Paul Sackey, scored a third-minute try with a run from the halfway line, outsprinting Dan Luger in the process.
Afterwards Best tipped the talented young Londoner, who has arrived from Bedford, for an England spot. It was his and Irish's day.
Scorers: London Irish: Tries: Sackey, Dawson. Conversion: Cunningham. Penalties: Cunningham 5. Saracens: Try: Castaignede. Conversion: Castaignede. Penalties: Castaignede 4. Drop goal: Castaignede.
London Irish: O'Shea (capt); Sackey, Matson (Ellis, 71min), Wright, Bishop; Cunningham, Campbell; Worsley (Hatley, 56), Kirke, Halford (Hardwick, 50), Strudwick, Williams, Halvey, Dawson, Sheasby.
Saracens: Castaignede; Luger, Johnston, Sorrell, O'Mahony; McRae (Sparg, 66); Bracken (capt); Flatman (Wallace, 56), Cairns, White, Murray (Dawson, 56), Grewcock, Roques, Hill, Chesney (Diprose, 50).
Referee: B Campsall (Yorkshire).
Blackrock have sparked another row within the IRFU when they were thrown out of the Kitty O'Shea Leinster league on Thursday.
Blackrock had entered two teams in the Kitty O'Shea competition, which is regarded as a competitive warm-up to the All-Ireland league.
They had pleaded with the Leinster branch that they couldn't field a team for either match against two Greystones XVs on Saturday but their pleas fell on angry ears within the Leinster Branch of the IRFU. Blackrock's entries into the league have been made void and all other teams will get automatic walkovers.
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