REPORT: Bristol Rugby 0 - 39 Saracens

Tries from Alex Lozowski (2), Chris Wyles, George Kruis and Jamie George sealed a bonus-point win for the visitors, while ten points from the boot of Ben Spencer and four from Lozowski completed the scoring. 

Chances were hard to come by in a scrappy opening period – and although the reigning Premiership and European champions dominated possession and territory, they found a fired up and resolute home defence a tough nut to crack.

But on 14 minutes, crack it they did as fly-half Alex Lozowski danced his way through the Bristol defence to touch down, with Ben Spencer adding the extras.

Saracens continued to hammer away at the hosts but were twice denied at maul time thanks to some sturdy work from James Phillips and Jordan Crane.

On 22 minutes, the visitors’ perseverance was rewarded with a simple penalty for Spencer, who stroked the ball over for a 10-0 lead.

After a bout of kick-tennis, Nick Tompkins found a half opening in midfield before being hauled down by a scrambling Bristol defence, with Jarvis – on as a replacement for Will Hurrell – eventually clearing downfield.

As the half drew to a close, Bristol came to life – and after a strong midfield carry from Pisi, Jordan Williams almost found a route through the Sarries resistance.

The half ended with Saracens leading 10-0 and that became 13-0 early in the second half courtesy of a second Spencer penalty, which found the target from 45 metres.

The scrum-half was on target again just three minutes later, adding the extras to a second Lozowski try after the fly-half had charged down Jarvis’ clearance.

The visitors scored their third of the night on the hour mark, when Chris Wyles applied the finishing touches to a break from Michael Rhodes and Lozowski’s touchline conversion made it 27-0.

Max Crumpton was then sent for ten minutes in the sin-bin for an infringement at the maul – and from the resulting lineout, Jamie George bundled over from close range for Saracens’ fourth try of the evening.

On 72 minutes, Jack Tovey sliced his way through the Sarries midfield before linking up with Jordan Williams – but the ball was turned over and at the other end, George Perkins was unable to ground Wigglesworth’s kick when in-goal.

The final action of the evening saw George Kruis capitalise on a loose ball and bundle over, while Lozowski’s conversion completed a 39-0 win for Saracens.

Bristol Rugby: Jordan Williams; Ryan Edwards (Wallace 61), Jack Tovey, Will Hurrell (Jarvis 40), Charlie Amesbury; Tusi Pisi, Will Cliff (Williams 67); Kyle Traynor (Bevington 46), Ross McMillan (Crumpton 61), Anthony Perenise (Cortes 61), James Phillips (Joyce 57), Mark Sorenson, Jon Fisher, Jack Lam (c) (Eadie 55), Jordan Crane.

Replacements: Max Crumpton, Ryan Bevington, Gaston Cortes, Joe Joyce, Mitch Eadie, Rhodri Williams, Adrian Jarvis, Jack Wallace.

Saracens: Chris Wyles, Mike Ellery, Nick Tompkins, Brad Barritt (Bosch 67), Matt Gallagher, Alex Lozowski, Ben Spencer (Wigglesworth 55); Mako Vunipola (Barrington 55), Jamie George, Petrus De Plessis (Figallo 40), Maro Itoje (Hamilton 65), George Kruis, Jackson Wray, Schalk Burger, Billy Vunipola (Rhodes 45).

Replacements: Scott Spurling, Richard Barrington, Juan Figallo, Jim Hamilton, Michael Rhodes, Richard Wigglesworth, Marcelo Bosch, George Perkins.

Referee: Ian Tempest