No way past well-disciplined rivals
After last week’s stunning home victory over Harlequins, Bath Rugby couldn’t find a way past a resolute and well-disciplined Saracens.
Ben Spencer replied to a couple of Alex Lozowski penalties for an evenly balanced first 35 minutes as Bath’s powerful back-row managed to cause the London side plenty of problems.
Saracens’ destructive rolling maul created two quick fire tries for hooker Tom Woolstencroft just before half-time.
Alex Goode and Alex Lewington earned the home side a try bonus point after the break, with Theo Mcfarland adding a fifth later in the half for a 40-3 thrashing.
The majority of last week’s winning starting team remained with just two changes to the pack. Will Spencer started in the second-row alongside Josh Mcnally.
Mike Williams moved to the back row alongside last week’s debutant Nathan Hughes. Jaco Coetzee also returned to the starting line-up following his return from injury last week. Tom Ellis and Ewan Richards dropped out.
Tom Dunn and Valeriy Morozov joined the bench after injury alongside Academy players Nahum Merigan and Josh Dingley. Second-row Dingley would make his senior Bath Rugby debut.
It was Saracens who began brightest. Similar to last week, Bath struggled in the early scrums and Saracens were awarded a penalty in front of the posts. Lozowski put the home side into an early lead with an easy kick.
Bath sprung into life and the super-sized back row of Hughes, Williams and Coetzee started to cause Saracens problems with their powerful surges.
Unfortunately, Williams had to leave the field with injury following a nasty looking tackle close to the Saracens line. Merrigan replaced him in the back-row.
Saracens managed to win back field position following an Andy Christie surge, drawing a kickable penalty which Lozowski converted.
Straight from the kick off, Saracens infringed at the breakdown and Ben Spencer slotted a magnificent long-range penalty to bring the score to 6-3.
The visitors faced more disruption as Jonathan Joseph was replaced by Will Butt.
With just five minutes left on the clock Saracens drove over for two tries for their hooker, Woolstencroft, the second with the clock in the red.
It was a tough end to a competitive first half for the visitors as the lack of game time for a lot of the pack took its toll. Saracens went into half-time with an 18-3 advantage.
Saracens started the second half much like the first, but this time they managed to convert pressure into points.
First of all Lozowski kicked his third penalty of the afternoon as Bath were penalised at the breakdown.
Goode then showed his class as he skipped through the Bath defence and then swapped passes with Ben Earl to dive over the whitewash.
Tom Dunn returned to the pitch after injury along with Russian international Valeriy Morozov, who made his Bath Rugby Premiership debut.
Saracens managed to create more chances but Bath repealed their advances until Mcfarland managed to finish off a blistering attack.
The introduction of Joe Simpson created some pace to Bath’s attack and Hughes nearly managed to score his first Bath try but was dragged down just short.
The last ten minutes fizzled out but it allowed Josh Dingley, fresh into the Academy this season, to make his Premiership Bath debut.
After the game, head coach Neil Hatley said: “It was tough.
“I think we lost a lot of collisions. I thought the Vunipolas were very good in the middle of the pitch. We lost collisions.
“It was 6-3 with a few minutes to go at half time, we have given up two penalties and ended up going in at 18-3 which changes the complexion of the second half a bit.
“I am disappointed, the boys are disappointed in the changing rooms. We have got a lot to work on for next week.”