Hapless Bath put to the sword by Saracens

ENGLAND lock Maro Itoje made a try-scoring return to the Gallagher Premiership as rampant Saracens humiliated rock-bottom Bath with a crushing victory at the Recreation Ground, writes Andrew Baldock.

The British & Irish Lions lock had not played a Premiership game since Saracens drew with Bath 12 months ago in their final top-flight fixture before the club’s salary cap breaches meant relegation to the Championship.

After completing his rest period following the Lions’ South Africa tour, Itoje showed impressive form in front of England head coach Eddie Jones – although his day ended early in the second half after he took a blow to his left shoulder.

His early exit appeared merely precautionary as the visiting side consigned outclassed Bath to a fourth successive defeat and a worst Premiership start since 2001.

Jones is certain to want early updates on Itoje and Bath wing Anthony Watson (knee), who also went off.

Saracens, though, made it three wins out of four, racking up a remarkable 45 points in the first half through hooker Jamie George’s try double, another two from wing Max Malins and one each by Itoje and flanker Ben Earl.

Substitute prop Eroni Mawi added a seventh Saracens try, Malins completed his hat-trick and

BATH RUGBY ................... 17 SARACENS ....................... 71

Rotimi Segun and Dom Morris also scored, while skipper Owen Farrell booted eight conversions and a penalty for a 19-point haul and Alex Goode kicked a conversion.

Full-back Tom de Glanville, back-row forward Tom Ellis and wing Will Muir claimed Bath try consolations, and Danny Cipriani added one conversion, but it was a horrible afternoon for the West Country club as they conceded the most points they ever have in a Premiership game.

Bath will feel aggrieved that no action was taken against Saracens wing Sean Maitland after he challenged De Glanville in the air during the first half, but they never looked like winning.

Bath: De Glanville; Watson, Joseph, Ojomoh, Muir; Cipriani, Fox; Obano, Dunn, Stuart, McNally, Ewels,

Reid, Underhill, Bayliss. Replacements: Green for Watson (63), McConnochie for Joseph (63), Bailey for Cipriani (52), Boyce for Obano (56), Du Toit for Dunn (56), Rae for Stuart (65), Williams for Ewels (52), Ellis for Reid (37).

Scorers – Tries:

Cipriani.

Saracens: Goode; Maitland, Lozowski, Tompkins, Malins; Farrell, Davies; M Vunipola, George, Riccioni, Itoje, Swinson, Isiekwe, Earl, B Vunipola. Replacements: Morris for Lozowski (63), Segun for Farrell (62), van

Zyl for Davies (51), Mawi for M Vunipola (51), Woolstencroft for George (51), Koch for Riccioni (33), Christie for Itoje (48), Reffell for Earl (60).

Scorers – Tries: Itoje, Malins 3, George 2, Earl,

Mawi, Segun, Morris. Cons: Farrell 8, Goode. Pens: Farrell.

Referee: Jack Makepeace (RFU).

De Glanville, Ellis, Muir. Cons: