FINAL SCORE

A pack performance full of aggression and the right boot of Rhys P-riestland kept Bath Rugby ‘s Pre miership play-off hopes alive.

The Blue, Black and White even showed composure late in the game to beat Gallagher Premiership champions Saracens 18-9 at a vocal Rec.

In several departments, the hosts gave Sarries a dose of their own medicine. They won turnovers with swarming counter-rucks, aggressive hit and strips, solid jackals and, overall, got the better of the scrums to relieve pressure and- deliver terri tory on a wet Friday night.

Such was the limpness of Sarries’ first-half performance you knew a fightback was inevitable. It came in t-he third quarter when Bath strug gled to keep hold of the ball, got disjointed and disorganised in attack, but Alex Lozowski’s kicking radar was way off as he botched chance after chance to level the game.

Despite Ross Batty – sent off a-gainst Worcester Warriors in Janu ary – being sin-binned for a silly and unnecessary shoulder charge ten minutes from time, Bath recovered to finish strongly and deliver a win which moved them up to sixth in the table.

The hosts were comfortably the b-etter side in the first half in slip pery conditions. After conceding s-ome early penalties they estab lished the upper hand and ended the first 40 minutes with 73 per cent possession.

Three Priestland penalties to Lozowski’s one gave the hosts a buffer which could and should have been greater.

Bath struggled to deal with some of the bombs put up by Alex Goode, b-ut they had little trouble in nullify ing the visitors’ running threats.

When replacement Ben Earl was sin-binned for kicking the ball out of a ruck on the hour, Bath could have pulled away but could only muster three points while he was Then, when Sarries had a penalty p-ending, Batty took out Alex Lew ington as he chased a kick over the top. Lozowski could and should have levelled the game and, if he had, his side might have gone on to win it. But it was the champions who lost their composure, shedding penalties – they gave up 20 in total during the contest – territory and points. Priestland punished with two excellent late strikes to seal the win and deny Saracens a bonus point.