Williams grabs hat-trick as Bristol’s Smith sees red
Defending champions Saracens versus the newly promoted Bristol Bears always had the potential to be an interesting litmus test of Premiership standards. When you add the heavy investment made into Pat Lam’s side the potential was there for the game to be much tighter than the score indicated.
And the margins were narrow until George Smith’s sending-off with half an hour left. Bristol had been leading 18-13 heading into the break and the sides were level at 18-18 when the 38-year-old
veteran openside saw red for a shoulder to the head of Saracens flanker Jackson Wray. Saracens replacement wing Liam Williams scored a hat-trick of tries in a 24-minute period after the visitors were down to 14 men.
Lam was “proud” of his side but rued their discipline overall. “The discipline again, that we are really hot on. We made errors that gave them a lot of chances, but for large parts we were right in that game,” he said.
Saracens were on the back foot for much of the first half, despite opening the scoring via a try from wing Matt Gallagher. Bristol replied with a try from Samoan wing Alapati Leiua who secured a brace on the stroke of half-time.
Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall said: “I was disappointed with the first-half performance. They did a brilliant job on us at the breakdown, and we weren’t consistently physical enough through phases. Obviously, we
got off to a good start – but we weren’t aggressive enough.”
The north Londoners drew level through a try from new signing Alex Lewington scoring his first at Allianz Park. Yet it was not until Smith’s sending off and the introduction of Billy Vunipola
‘They did a brilliant job on us and we weren’t physical enough through phases’
into the back row from the bench that Saracens started to show their usual ruthless streak. McCall added: “To give our players credit they were way better in the second half, albeit against 14 men. In the first 10 minutes of the second half, we did come out with a better mindset.”
Having spent much of the past 18 months injured, it was difficult to assess Vunipola’s impact but he looked to add ballast and dynamism, scoring after Smith’s departure. Wing Williams set down his statement of intent after strong performances from starting wings Gallagher and Lewington and the Wales international did so with his quick-fire hat-trick. Bristol’s Nick Haining crossed before Williams’ last.
Scoring 5-0 Gallagher try, 7-0 Farrell con; 7-5 Leiua try, 7-7 Sheedy con; 7-10 Sheedy pen; 7-13 Sheedy pen; 10-13 Farrell pen; 13-13 Farrell pen; 13-18 Leiua try; 18-18 Lewington try; 23-18 B Vunipola try, 25-18 Farrell con; 30-18 Williams try; 35-18 Williams try, 37-18 Farrell con; 37-23 Haining try; 42-23 Williams try, 44-23 Farrell con. Saracens A Goode; M Gallagher, A Lozowski, B Barritt (capt) (N Tompkins 13), A Lewington (L Williams 51); O Farrell, B Spencer (R Wigglesworth 51); M Vunipola (R Barrington 63), J George (C Tolofua 70), V Koch (T Lamositele 63), M Itoje, N Isiekwe, M Rhodes, J Wray (49), S Vailanu (B Vunipola 44). Bristol Bears P O’Conor; L Morahan, W Hurrell (T Pincus 57-64), S Piutau, A Leiua; C Sheedy (I Madigan 50), A Uren (H Randell X); J Lay (J Afoa 14), H Thacker (S Malton 50), L Thiede (J Woolmore 54), E Holmes (J Joyce 54), J Latta, S Luatua (capt) (N Haining 54), G Smith, J Lam. Red card G Smith 48. Referee Andrew Jackson.