Australian Duncan McRae steered Saracens to their second successive
Premiership victory after a thrilling contest against battling Bristol at the
Memorial Stadium.
McRae contributed 24 points through a try, five penalties and two conversions,
recovering from a difficult start when his error gave Bristol a fifth minute
try.
Fly-half McRae, who took over the goal-kicking duties from absent Thomas
Castaignede - getting married in France - missed just two kicks at goal from
nine attempts.
And his performance proved the difference between two fiercely competitive
sides, with Saracens fighting back from a 16-10 interval deficit to score 19
unanswered points before Bristol flanker Adam Vander claimed a late consolation
try.
Unlike the free flowing exhibition against Gloucester last Sunday, Saracens
were this time forced to dig deep, building victory around an aggressive forward
effort in which England flanker Richard Hill provided an outstanding presence.
Bristol had their moments and competed throughout, but in the end ran out of
steam as Saracens' greater quality finally proved conclusive.
Bristol though, got off to a flying start when wing Dean Dewdney collected his
second try in as many Premiership outings this term.
McRae's intended cross-kick to centre Ben Johnston didn't find its intended
target, and when the ball fell loose, Dewdney picked up and sprinted 80 metres
to score.
Fly-half Gareth Bowen converted, and kicked three first half penalties, but
Saracens kept themselves in contention through a McRae penalty and close-range
try by flanker Kris Chesney.
McRae's conversion of that score tied the game at 10-10 before Bowen ensured
that Bristol enjoyed an interval lead.
However, within 75 seconds of the restart, Saracens went ahead for the first
time, and didn't allow Bristol back after that.
Saracens' skipper Kyran Bracken, managed to off-load his pass to McRae despite
stumbling, and with the Bristol defence dozing, McRae hurtled through a colossal
gap for a try which he also converted.
Sensing that the game had turned their way, Saracens sent on England forwards
Danny Grewcock and David Flatman with some 30 minutes still remaining and
Bristol kept conceding penalties which McRae duly punished.
Three more goals during a nine-minute spell meant that Saracens led by 10
points entering the closing quarter, and Bristol were left with a mountain to
climb.
And their cause wasn't helped when skipper Agustin Pichot let himself down
with a crass act of indiscipline, stamping on Hill and spending an inevitable 10
minutes sin-binned.
A further McRae penalty extended Saracens' advantage, and although Vander
struck with time running out, the visitors still had the final word.
Bracken, a livewire act throughout, managed to shrug off Vander's attempted
tackle, slipping an inside pass to Irish wing Darragh O'Mahony, who sprinted
clear to wrap up an impressive triumph.
Unlike against Gloucester, there were no bonus points for Saracens this
weekend, but following two wins from two starts they sent out warning signals to
all their Premiership rivals.
Teams
Bristol: Best, Rees, Simone, Davies, Dewdney, Bowen, Pichot,
Johnstone, McCarthy, Crompton, Sheridan, Ryan, Fenn, Vander,
Brownrigg.
Replacements: Vile for Bowen (69), Baber for Pichot (75),
Williams for McCarthy (40), Fullman for Crompton (69),
A. Brown for Ryan (63), Sturnham for Fenn (65).
Not Used: Mayer.
Sin Bin: Pichot (66).
Tries: Dewdney, Vander.
Cons: Bowen, Vile.
Pens: Bowen 3.
Saracens: Sparg, Luger, Johnson, Sorrell, O'Mahony, McRae,
Bracken, Wallace, Cairns, White, Murray, Davison, Chesney,
Hill, Diprose.
Replacements: Flatman for Wallace (50),
Grewcock for Davison (50).
Not Used: Haughton, Kwisiuk, Roques, Arasa, Walshe.
Att: 4,280
Ref: Chris White (RFU).
Tries: Chesney, McRae, O'Mahony.
Cons: McRae 2.
Pens: McRae 5
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