Rugby / Bristol Bears
Bears’ winning run brought to a halt by Saracens
There was a period of almost ten minutes in the Saturday afternoon sunshine when 15 Bears were playing against only 13 Saracens.
But with two Saracens talismans, Maro Itoje and Ben Earl, off the pitch, Bristol could only score one converted try and conceded a penalty.
In a game of very small margins, those ten minutes could have been crucial for Bristol’s season but they failed to capitalise in front of a raucous crowd at Ashton Gate.
is needed now More than ever
It meant that Bristol Bears’ winning run after the season’s restart was brought to a shuddering halt 20-41 by their closest league rivals.
Saracens could still retain their Premiership title but Bristol’s play-off hopes now hang by a thread.
Bristol scored first courtesy of a typical Joe Batley dive for the line after a break from Harry Randall had gained a precious few metres.
The home side extended their lead after former Bears player Ben Earl stupidly kicked the ball away moving a penalty on the half-wave line ten-metres further forward and AJ MacGinty made the most of the closer distance, slotting over for three points.
Saracens’ first points came from the boot of Owen Farrell following Siva Naulago – who recently signed a new deal for the Bears – being sent to the sin-bin for a deliberate knock-on.
After another MacGinty penalty, a drop from Ellis Genge allowed Saracens’ in for their first try from Maro Itoje and they drew level with Bristol thanks to a penaty this time struck by Elliott Daly before a huge 50:22 from Farrell set up his England teammate Itoje’s second try.
No way through for Knowle Wester, Ellis Genge – photo: Bristol Bears
Bristol thought they had scored a try with just a few minutes gone in the second half but Randall’s tap-and-go was deemed not within the rules due to a Saracens player receiving treatement for a head injury inside the in-goal area.
The Saracens defence then withheld a spell of sustained Bears pressure and then broke clear
Itoje appeared fortunate to only get a yellow card for a dangerous tackle on Steven Luatua, with Saracens soon down to 13 after Earl was also sent to the bin.
With a two-man advantage, Harry Thacker scored for Bristol just seconds after entering the field, with James Williams taking the conversion as MacGinty was off the field due to a head injury.
But then it was time for Saracens to strike twice with tries by Rotimi Segun and the Argentinian, Juan Martín González.
This was Bristol’s last home game of the season with fond farewells after the final whistle to departing players including Callum Sheedy, Piers O’Connor, Kyle Sinckler, Dan Thomas and Ed Holmes.
Main photo: Bristol Bears
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