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Bath end Saracens hoodoo in style to go top of Premiership Bath end Saracens hoodoo in style to go top of Premiership
(35 minutes later)
Bath leapfrogged Saracens at the top of the Premiership table after finally ending their long-running losing jinx against their London opponents. The previously unbeaten visitors had won the last seven games between the clubs but were well beaten on the night by an improving Bath team who took a grip on the match early on and never let go. Bath leapfrogged Saracens at the top of the Premiership table after finally ending their long-running losing jinx against their London opponents. The previously unbeaten visitors had won the previous seven games between the clubs but were well beaten on the night by an improving Bath team who took a grip on the match early on and never let go.
The hosts would have won by a wider margin had George Ford’s goal-kicking been a shade more accurate. They possessed comfortably the sharper midfield, with the centres Jonathan Joseph and Kyle Eastmond each scoring an excellent try apiece, and delivered another fine defensive performance, with Dave Attwood and his back row all prominent. The hosts would have won by a wider margin had George Ford’s goal-kicking been a shade more accurate. They possessed comfortably the sharper midfield, with the centres Jonathan Joseph and Kyle Eastmond each scoring an excellent try apiece, and delivered another fine defensive performance, with Dave Attwood and his back-row all prominent.
Ford missed five kicks in total, including four penalty attempts, but the rest of the fly-half’s game was beautifully sharp and those outside him were suitably grateful. Eastmond and Joseph are enjoying this season massively and Semesa Rokoduguni on the right wing turned in another impressive display which will have given the watching Mike Catt, England’s attacking skills coach, further food for thought. Ford missed five kicks in total, including four penalty attempts, but the rest of the fly-half’s game was beautifully sharp and those outside him were suitably grateful. Eastmond and Joseph are enjoying this season massively and Semesa Rokoduguni on the right wing turned in another impressive display that will have given the watching Mike Catt, England’s attacking skills coach, further food for thought. “I’m determined to keep playing the way we want,” stressed the head coach Mike Ford. “We’ve only just scratched the surface … it’s really exciting where we’re going with this team.”
Another record home crowd – the attendance of 13,314 was a sell-out – relished every second and will feel suitably encouraged that, at last, Bath are genuine title contenders again. This may not have been a beating on a par with Leicester’s 45-0 defeat a fortnight ago but, following last week’s bonus point defeat at Northampton, it offered further evidence of the home side’s increasing all-round strength. On this evidence it will take an extremely good side to beat them on their own patch, either in the Premiership or Europe. Another record home crowd – the attendance of 13,314 was a sell-out – relished every second and will feel suitably encouraged that Bath are genuine title contenders again. This may not have been a beating on a par with Leicester’s 45-0 defeat a fortnight ago but, following last week’s bonus point defeat at Northampton, it offered further evidence of the home side’s increasing all-round strength. On this evidence it will take an extremely good side to beat them on their own patch, either in the Premiership or Europe.
Saracens do not lose often and certainly not beside the River Avon. They had triumphed on each of their previous five visits to the Rec but it was Bath who struck first on a calm, mild evening, courtesy of an uncharacteristic mix-up involving Alex Goode and Billy Vunipola. Between them they allowed a Ford up-and-under to bounce and, under pressure, Duncan Taylor could only flip the ball to Eastmond who sent Joseph scooting over for the game’s opening try. Saracens do not lose often and certainly not beside the River Avon. They had triumphed on each of their previous five visits to the Rec but it was Bath who struck first on a calm, mild evening, courtesy of an uncharacteristic mix-up involving Alex Goode and Billy Vunipola. Between them they allowed a Ford up-and-under to bounce and, under pressure, Duncan Taylor could only flip the ball to Kyle Eastmond who sent Joseph scooting over for the game’s opening try.
The home scrum, with the prop Davey Wilson making his 100th appearance for the club, also enjoyed a productive first half-hour against opponents once again lacking Schalk Brits and Mako Vunipola, not to mention Owen Farrell, Brad Barritt and Will Fraser. James Johnston endured a tough night opposite the experienced Welshman Paul James and Bath would have been further ahead had Ford not missed two first-half penalties.The home scrum, with the prop Davey Wilson making his 100th appearance for the club, also enjoyed a productive first half-hour against opponents once again lacking Schalk Brits and Mako Vunipola, not to mention Owen Farrell, Brad Barritt and Will Fraser. James Johnston endured a tough night opposite the experienced Welshman Paul James and Bath would have been further ahead had Ford not missed two first-half penalties.
Saracens were also indebted to Neil de Kock, who covered back in the nick of time to deny Rokoduguni following a neatly-judged chip ahead from Joseph. When Goode, stepping up for the temporarily injured Charlie Hodgson, narrowed the gap to only four points it seemed Bath might be in danger of wasting their early promise, only for the game’s momentum to swing again a minute before the interval. Saracens were also indebted to Neil de Kock, who covered back in the nick of time to deny Rokoduguni following a neatly judged chip ahead from Joseph. When Goode, stepping up for the temporarily injured Hodgson, narrowed the gap to four points it seemed Bath might be in danger of wasting their early promise, only for the game’s momentum to swing again a minute before the interval.
Chris Ashton had previously been enjoying a decent half, rising high above Gavin Henson to claim one important high ball, but his luck ran out when the referee Greg Garner showed him a yellow card for charging in to knock down Stuart Hooper’s pass in midfield with plenty of Bath support awaiting the ball on the outside. Ford also kicked the ensuing penalty, leaving Sarries to overcome a seven-point deficit in the second half. Chris Ashton had previously been enjoying a decent half, rising high above Gavin Henson to claim one important high ball, but his luck ran out when the referee Greg Garner showed him a yellow card for knocking down Stuart Hooper’s pass in midfield, a decision later described as “poor” by Mark McCall, Sarries’ director of rugby. Ford also kicked the ensuing penalty, leaving Sarries to overcome a seven-point deficit in the second half.
The visitors were still down to 14 men when Bath scored their second try, another of the dazzling long-range scores that are fast becoming their trademark. Ford was the instigator in his own 22, releasing Alafoti Fa’osiliva on a storming upfield run that was brought to a shuddering halt by Vunipola. When the ball was recycled left, however, Rob Webber and Joseph both showed good awareness to release the quicksilver Eastmond who just beat the cover defence to the line.The visitors were still down to 14 men when Bath scored their second try, another of the dazzling long-range scores that are fast becoming their trademark. Ford was the instigator in his own 22, releasing Alafoti Fa’osiliva on a storming upfield run that was brought to a shuddering halt by Vunipola. When the ball was recycled left, however, Rob Webber and Joseph both showed good awareness to release the quicksilver Eastmond who just beat the cover defence to the line.
It was something of a surprise when Sarries finally scored a try, their American international Chris Wyles twisting out of Henson’s tackle to touch down in the right corner. The arrival of Jim Hamilton asked some belated forward questions but, for once in the recent history of this fixture, Bath had all the answers. Assuming Ford can rediscover his goal- kicking radar, the future is looking promising. It was something of a surprise when Sarries finally scored a try, their American international Chris Wyles twisting out of Henson’s tackle to touch down in the right corner. The arrival of Jim Hamilton asked some belated forward questions but, for once in the recent history of this fixture, Bath had all the answers.
Bath: Henson; Rokoduguni, Joseph, Eastmond (Devoto, 73), Woodburn (Watson, 59); Ford, Cook (Young, 62); James (Auterac, 55), Webber (Batty, 62), Wilson (Thomas, 55), Hooper (capt; Day, 59), Attwood, Fa’osiliva, Bath: Henson; Rokoduguni, Joseph, Eastmond (Devoto, 73), Woodburn (Watson, 59); Ford, Cook (Young, 62); James (Auterac, 55), Webber (Batty, 62), Wilson (Thomas, 55), Hooper (capt; Day, 59), Attwood, Fa’osiliva, Mercer (Sisi, 66), Houston.
Mercer (Sisi, 66), Houston. Tries: Joseph, Eastmond. Con: Ford. Pens: Ford 3.
Tries: Joseph, Eastmond; Con: Ford Pens: Ford 3 Saracens: Goode; Ashton, Taylor (Tomkins, 69), Wyles, Strettle (Ransom, h-t); Hodgson, De Kock (Wigglesworth, 54); Gill (Barrington, 75), George, Johnston (Longbottom, 49), Kruis (Hamilton, 54), Hargreaves (capt), Brown, Burger (Wray, 52), Vunipola.
Saracens: Goode; Ashton, Taylor, Wyles, Strettle (Ransom, h-t); Hodgson, De Kock (Wigglesworth, 54); Gill (Barrington, 75), George, Johnston (Longbottom, 49), Kruis (Hamilton, 54), Hargreaves (capt), Brown, Try: Wyles. Pens: Hodgson, Goode.
Burger (Wray, 52), Vunipola. Sin-bin: Ashton 39.
Try: Wyles Pens: Hodgson, Goode. Referee: G Garner (RFU). Att: 13,314.
Referee G Garner (RFU).