In the unpredictable world of top-flight rugby, here was a result we could all understand. Bristol arrived on a record-breaking run of 10 away wins, but seriously hindered by injuries. They fought with spirit and snatched a late try bonus point, but rarely looked likely to seriously trouble Saracens, who were hungry to atone for last Saturday’s record thrashing by Bath.
The Bears have never won at this venue and victory would have been a perfect way to start what is already a momentous weekend with Ilona Maher’s bow for their women’s side at Ashton Gate on Sunday. But two first-half tries by the outstanding Sarries’ No 8 Tom Willis – including one of the most fleet-footed finishes you will see from a forward – helped Mark McCall’s men take a grip on the contest they never relinquished.
The Saracens director of rugby made eight changes after the humbling in the West Country but the England hooker Jamie George started again, determined to mark his 300th club appearance with a more Saracens-like display.
Bristol, meanwhile, were bound to miss Gabriel Ibitoye, the wing injured in last weekend’s heavy home defeat by Sale. In the even more keenly felt absence of fly-half AJ MacGinty, the 21-year-old Sam Worsley started.
There was a touch of early confusion due to a problem with the match clock, but there was nothing wrong with Saracens’ timing. Alex Lozowski and Nick Tompkins linked sweetly and allowed Fergus Burke to release Lucio Cinti before Willis barged over. More slick handling sent Cinti haring down the left again, leading to Burke breezing through a gap into the 22 and touching down.
A long night loomed but Pat Lam’s men refused to fade. Harry Randall darted over, and with Bristol immediately pushing for a second try, Itoje was shown a yellow card for infringing at a ruck.
Despite being a man down, a long-range Elliot Daly penalty extended Saracens’ lead before Itoje, back from the sin-bin, intercepted and steamed downfield, winning territory for Willis to apply a sensational finish, jinking around three defenders on his way to the corner.
Harry Byrne, signed on loan from Leinster as cover for MacGinty, came on but the attacking verve continued to come from the hosts, Cinti sprinting in after being fed by Ivan van Zyl.
In the final quarter, Bristol’s Kalaveti Ravouvou made an immediate impact from the bench after a quick tap penalty by Randall – but a rampaging chase by Willis terrorised Bristol’s Rich Lane at the other end and got the home crowd roaring.
Harry Thacker’s try then made it a nine-point game – “I was nervous in the last 10,” McCall said – before a supremely disciplined Saracens defensive set teed up Burke’s second try. There was time for Jake Heenan to secure a Bears’ try bonus point but all told, it was the reaction McCall and Saracens wanted.
“Tom was outstanding,” McCall said of Willis. “He’s been outstanding all year and if he keeps on putting in performances like that, he’ll get rewarded [with England selection].”
Leicester battled to a much‑needed yet unconvincing win over struggling Exeter in a dour contest. The Tigers were the better side in the first half, but the visitors dominated the second period until Will Rigg was sent to the sin‑bin and the Chiefs can consider themselves unfortunate not to come away from Welford Road with at least a point.
Olly Cracknell, Cameron Henderson, Ollie Hassell-Collins and Ben Youngs scored Leicester’s tries, with Handré Pollard converting all four. For Exeter, some Henry Slade magic created two tries for Tom Wyatt, with Josh Hodge converting one. Slade added a penalty.
Exeter took a fourth-minute penalty from that Slade penalty but from their first period of pressure Leicester responded with a try from Cracknell, when the No 8 proved unstoppable from a five-metre scrum. Pollard converted to make it 7-3 at the end of a competitive but disjointed first quarter.
Leicester extended the lead when a half-break from Pollard gave Henderson the chance to crash over under the posts. Pollard converted, but his missed from a long-range penalty meant a 14-3 interval lead.
Two minutes after the restart, Exeter scored an excellent try with Slade’s crossfield kick being collected by Wyatt for the wing to race over and the Chiefs continued to have the better of the third quarter. Stu Townsend and Slade neatly combined to provide Wyatt with a walk-in score. Hodge took over the kicking from Slade and nailed the conversion from near the touchline to put his side in front.
With 15 minutes remaining, Exeter lost Rigg to the sin-bin for taking Freddie Steward out in the air and the Tigers immediately capitalised. A break from Dan Kelly tore the defence to shreds and, when the ball was recycled, Hassell‑Collins outflanked the cover to score.
Rigg was still absent when Youngs saw a gap to secure a scarcely deserved bonus point. PA Media
Lam was pleased with his players’ fighting spirit. “At 27-7, you come here and you’re that far behind, that could really get away from you,” he said. “But the boys fought back hard. They knew we had the potential to come back.”
Of Maher’s debut for Bristol Women on Sunday, he said: “It’s great for the game, great for the women’s game. There’s a lot of people coming which is class – people who don’t normally come to rugby.”
McCall, though, saved the last word for the irrepressible George. “To be able to do what he’s done – 300 games for us, 97 for England, three for the British Lions – is because of his competitive spirit and his drive,” McCall said. “But he’s able to combine that with being a really good bloke.” George’s tilt at a seventh Premiership title is firmly back on track, too.
