Saracens stole an amazing victory over Bath at The Recreation Ground with a
heroic effort from their pack.
The crucial try came in first-half injury time thanks to a rare moment of
class in an error-strewn game as Thomas Castaignede opened up the Bath defence
to create the score for Richard Haughton.
With former All Black captain Taine Randell in imperious form, the Londoners
took it to Bath from the restart and held them at bay throughout the second half
restricting the home team to only a second penalty from Olly Barkley.
Four vital points will give Saracens huge hearts for 2005 under
recently-appointed head coach Steve Diamond, but Bath are drifting away from an
automatic qualification place for next season Heineken Cup.
They began the game expecting an easy win and were heartened by the return of
points machine Olly Barkley who resumed in the centre after recovering from a
back problem.
However the absence of skipper Jonathan Humphreys was possibly a more grievous
loss as Bath looked rudderless from the first whistle.
It had not looked too promising for Saracens before the kick-off, despite the
return of Kyran Bracken and Castaignede after injury.
Skipper Alex Sanderson was a late withdrawal, giving way to Ben Skirving in a
back row which had to be re-jigged to accommodate him.
Although Barkley opened the scoring after just three minutes, Saracens had
first use of a blustery wind and took full advantage.
As the weather rolled in from the south west, fly-half Glen Jackson kicked
intelligently to pin Bath into the corner and the New Zealander levelled the
scores with a 24th-minute penalty after James Scaysbrook had been penalised at
the tackle.
The conditions were becoming increasingly difficult but could not be blamed
entirely for a string of errors on both sides - spilled passes, accidental
offsides and turnovers.
The visitors had plenty of territorial possession, but initially it was Bath
who looked the more threatening on the occasions they found themselves in the
opposition half.
As the game was drifting into first-half injury time, Castaignede shrugged off
a tackle and danced down the right touchline before sending an overhead pass to
his right wing - Haughton.
He ran round behind the posts, leaving Jackson with a simple conversion to
give Saracens a 10-3 lead at the break.
If the Bath supporters thought Saracens were going to roll over in the second
half, Randell and his team-mates had other ideas, forcing Bath on the back foot
and eventually earning a penalty after 49 minutes which Jackson converted to
make the score 13-3.
Randell lifted the pressure with a daring breakout which nearly created a
second try, but Castaignede for once misjudged a cross kick and let Bath off the
hook.
With Chris Malone having an indifferent game at fly-half, Bath ran out of
ideas and although Barkley brought them within seven points with a 74th-minute
penalty, a succession of desperate attacks floundered on resolute Saracens
defence.
Deep into injury time, Matt Perry seemed to be over the line, but he spilled
with the ball in the tackle and Bath seemed to know it was not to be their day.
Teams
Bath: Perry, Welsh, Crockett, Barkley, Daniel, Malone, Walshe,
Barnes, Mears, Stevens, Borthwick, Grewcock, Beattie,
Scaysbrook, Fea'unati.
Replacements: Maddock for Welsh (68), Williams for Walshe (76),
Ward for Mears (45), Bell for Stevens (62),
Lipman for Scaysbrook (62).
Not Used: Fidler, Davis.
Pens: Barkley 2.
Saracens: Bartholomeusz, Haughton, Castaignede, Harris,
Vaikona, Jackson, Bracken, Yates, Cairns, Broster, Fullarton,
S. Raiwalui, Randell, Seymour, Skirving.
Replacements: Sorrell for Castaignede (76),
B. Russell for Yates (80), Lloyd for Broster (36),
Chesney for S. Raiwalui (66).
Not Used: Kyriacou, Williams, Bailey.
Tries: Haughton.
Cons: Jackson.
Pens: Jackson 2.
Att: 10,500
Ref: Roy Maybank (Kent).
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