Dixon's third penalty narrowed the gap early in the second half, Thomas missing a penalty then adding another to restore a six-point gap.
Goode trimmed the gap with a penalty but the last word went to Contepomi.
Cipriani trimmed the gap with a penalty and then conjured a sizzling break from his own 22.
Saracens were still unable to show the supposed gulf in class between the two sides and Thomas once again cut the gap with a penalty.
Halfpenny had a chance just before half-time to narrow the gap but the penalty chance from his own 10-metre line asked too much from even the wing's powerful boot.
However, Flood trimmed the gap with a penalty and then linked with Dupuy to send Hamilton - a former Crusaders team-mate of Carter's - over from a quick tap penalty.
Two penalties from Glen Jackson reduced the gap but a Davis penalty and a Peter Short try ensured Bath were on top.
The Boks enjoyed territorial dominance as the half wore on but the US defended bravely and even trimmed the gap through a Hercus penalty.
Evans trimmed the gap with a second penalty midway through the half and Quins took the lead after 28 minutes when Turner-Hall crossed untouched under the posts.
O'Gara cut the gap with a fourth penalty with 12 minutes to go and the Ireland fly-half's trusty boot put the ball on a plate for Tuitupou in the final seconds.
After their limited approach in the first 40 minutes Argentina decided they had to open things up and they soon trimmed the gap through a Rodriguez penalty after Hines was yellow carded for a dangerous tackle on Pumas centre Gonzalo Tiesi.
Leinster did manage to open up a seven-point gap when Contepomi landed a penalty from in front of the posts.
Keatley's penalty reduced the gap to seven points just after the restart but Ulster were soon to regain control of the game.
O'Gara converted and stroked a drop-goal through the posts shortly after to create some daylight before Paterson's fifth penalty narrowed the gap to four points.
Although Strange's second penalty closed the gap to three points at the start of the second half, Stade extended their lead when Argentine Corleto held off two defenders to touch down in the corner.
Lowes almost decapitated Brian Carney with another high shot midway through the half, but a Paul Deacon penalty reduced the gap to four points after referee Karl Kirkpatrick ruled that the ball had been illegally ripped from Robbie Paul's grasp.
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Miah Nikora led Connacht's fight back with a try, conversion and penalty to reduce the gap to 13-10 at the break.
Munster took inspiration from their escape and O'Gara increased the gap to six points with a penalty nine minutes from time.
Agen ended the half on the up as some powerful play from their pack saw Miquel reduce the gap with a close-range penalty.
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Geraghty's conversion cut the gap to six points and a penalty apiece for the two fly-halves meant Sarries led 19-13 entering the final quarter.
Just before the interval, Ponty flanker Nick Kelly was yellow carded following a brawl and from the resultant penalty Hayes cut the gap to two points.
Bristol could have trimmed the gap but Jarvis missed a kickable penalty and they soon shipped their second try, with the 19-year-old Lewis once again heavily involved.
To compound Scarlets misery, hooker Rees was sin-binned for a dangerous tackle on replacement Tani Fuga, Malone landing the penalty to reduce the gap to three points.
Edinburgh at last began to apply some pressure of their own and, after Wallace was sent to the sin-bin for an infringement, Paterson kicked the resulting penalty to narrow the gap to three points.
Leicester fly-half Twelvetrees kicked a penalty to narrow the gap shortly after Smith was yellow carded, but within two minutes, the visitors also lost Ed Slater to the sin bin for a deliberate knock-on.
But the Ontario outfit hit back through a Barclay Luke penalty before Wales opened the gap again with a driven try for Booth from a lineout.
Leeds had made Saracens look distinctly ordinary during the first 40 minutes and when Thomas cut the gap to two points with his third penalty it looked as though an upset might still be on the cards.
King, Anderson and Bracek all capitalised before a Pat Richards penalty allowed Wigan to cut the gap just before the break.
Aled Thomas cut the gap to 3-13 with his first penalty, but the Dragons defence was cut to pieces minutes later as Selley opened his try account for the season.
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