Saracens victorious over Bath Rugby

A clinical second half performance from Saracens gave them a 50-27 victory over Bath Rugby at Allianz Park.

The Blue, Black and White went into the lead with an early penalty, following good work from the forwards. Rhys Priestland looked to the sticks and put Bath ahead after two minutes.

Saracens scored the first try of the game through Liam Williams. Saracens worked the ball out wide to the right wing, with a clever cross-field move. Goode broke though the Bath defence before offloading to the winger. The conversion was unsuccessful and the home side had a two-point lead after 12 minutes. [5-3]

The home side scored their second try just three minutes later. A line-out just outside the Bath 22 was utilised well, the ball was spread wide and Alex Lozowski sent Alex Goode through on a clever line to score. Farrell converted to give Saracens a nine point lead. [12-3]

Bath closed the gap to six points on the 26^th minute mark. Priestland slotting a monstrous penalty kick from 47 metres out. [12-6]

Saracens responded just four minutes later, following a scrum penalty against Bath led to a five-metre line-out for the hosts. The set piece was neatly worked and Saracens went over for their third try of the match. Farrell made no mistake with the touchline conversion. [19-6]

Bath responded moments later courtesy of a opportunistic effort from Chris Cook. The scrum-half rushed out from the Saracens line-out just outside the Bath 22 and intercepted. Cook showed his pace and ran the length of the pitch to score Bath’s first try of the game. Priestland converted from the touchline to narrow the gap to six points once again. [19-13]

Saracens showed patience and worked their way up the field and into the Bath 22, to open up another scoring opportunity. The hosts continued to go through the phases before the ball was distributed to Nick Tompkins who beat the defender and ran into score the bonus-point try on the 38^th minute mark. Farrell extended Saracens lead from the tee. [26-13]

The half wasn’t over just yet with Bath next on the scoreboard with Tom Homer finishing a flowing attacking move. Bath turned the ball over on halfway and the ball was spread out wide and found Darren Atkins. The full-back charged up the field beating his defender, before drawing in the last man, providing a no look pass to Homer, who ran in to score in the corner. Priestland made no mistake with the touchline conversion. [26-20] 

Half time - Saracens 26-20 Bath Rugby

Saracens started the second half strongly with Prop Titi Lamositele breaking out of a tackle on the right wing before unselfishly giving the ball to Williams who went in to score his second try. Farrell added the extras and the hosts led by 13 points after 41 minutes. [33-20]

Saracens continued to apply pressure after the break and Williams went in for his third try after 53 minutes, with Alex Goode the architect of the move. The full-back sidestepped his man on the Bath 22 and drawing in several defenders before cleverly offloading to the winger. Farrell failed to add the extras. [38-20]

Come the 62^nd minute, Saracens found themselves in a good attacking position once again, but this time it was Bath who struck. Tom Homer read Farrell’s pass as he tried to distribute wide and the winger outran the Saracens defence to score his second in spectacular fashion. Burns made no mistake with the extras, slotting the touchline conversion. [38-27]

Saracens landed the killer blow four minutes later. The home side found themselves camped inside the Bath 22, before the ball was distributed out wide to the influential Goode. The full-back found Sean Maitland on the left wing, with the Scottish international beating the defender to score. [43-27]

The final try of the match came in the 78^th minute. Following a scrum penalty, the hosts found themselves with a line-out five metres out. A powerful rolling maul from the home side sent Christopher Tolofua over the whitewash to complete the victory for the reigning Gallagher Premiership champions. [50-27] 

Full-time - Saracens 50-27 Bath Rugby