Bath down champions with backs to the wall defending
A TITANIC defensive performance gave Bath an unlikely win over the champions as they delivered a display of guts and resilience.
Saracens hogged possession and territory during the second period but had just three points to show for their half ’s labours.
Nathan Catt and Dave Attwood excelled in Bath’s rear-guard action, having earlier lost Taulupe Faletau to an eye injury.
Fly-half Alex Lozowski had a last-minute shot at goal from 52m to tie the match, but his effort drifted short and wide, prompting celebrations by a record Rec crowd that were reminiscent of a cup win.
The jubilation was in part due to Bath’s poor record against Mark McCall’s team – they had won just one of their last seven home ties against the champions.
Saracens’ precise kickchase tactic had played a key role in those recent away wins at Bath, but this tactic was neutralised by assured running from deep by dropped England winger Semesa Rokoduguni and full-back Tom Homer.
Faletau was dominant at the breakdown and direct with ball in hand, until he was forced off after 23 minutes. The No.8 returned to the fray after ten minutes, only to be permanently replaced by Zach Mercer three minutes later.
Two Homer penalties to one for Lozowski gave Bath a deserved early lead. They looked potent with ball in hand, and their reward came courtesy of a dash of invention from new Australian recruit Ben Tapuai.
The inside centre feigned a pass to Rokoduguni before spinning out of two challenges and off-loading to centre partner Max Clark, who dived over.
Sarries muscled their way into the match with a five-minute blitz on the Bath 5m line, and an exquisitely-flighted pass by the impressive Alex Goode almost put Chris Wyles in at the corner.
Minutes later, the visitors had a try chalked off by TMO Rowan Kitt after the ball was judged to have been held up. However, Bath’s stout defensive labours were undone when Aled Brew flew up out of the defensive line, allowing Sean Maitland to score a minute before half time.
Lozowski missed the conversion, giving Bath a 14-11 half-time advantage, but Saracens looked lively during the opening minutes of the second period.
Wyles was twice foiled by aggressive Bath defending, and after seven minutes of pressure Lozowski dropped a goal to tie the scores.
Rokoduguni burst out of his half with another counter-attacking surge and Clark came close to getting his second, but that was to be as close as Bath would get to another try.
Lozowski was sin-binned for a high challenge on Dan Bowden, and Homer kicked what turned out to be the decisive penalty – with halfan-hour still on the clock.
Goode pushed a shot at goal in Lozowski’s absence, and Sarries then proceeded to apply wave after wave of pressure.
Bath’s kicking from hand descended to the near-farcical as they repeatedly failed to clear their lines, with Tapuai twice missing touch, but they were saved by their defensive determination – and Lozowski’s late miss.