England returnee steers Saracens to sensational comeback win over Bristol Bears
Alex Lozowksi secured a dramatic win for Saracens with an 80th-minute penalty.
England returnee Alex Lozowski’s 80th-minute penalty as Saracens defeated Bristol Bears 37-35 in a thriller at Ashton Gate.
The centre, who returns to the England squad for the first time since 2018, slotted four conversions and three penalties in the win, but a brace from Elliot Daly and other scores from Toby Knight and Rotimi Segun proved crucial in the win.
Click here for the scorers
Bristol’s level of confidence was underlined from the kick-off as they launched an attack inside Saracens’ half and then scored an opening try after just 107 seconds.
Saracens were powerless to halt a short-range lineout drive, and Harding claimed the touchdown as Bristol delivered an immediate statement of intent.
Bristol lost lock Josh Caulfield with an injury – he was replaced by Joe Owen – but it did not disrupt their rhythm as a MacGinty penalty put them eight points ahead.
But Saracens worked their way into the contest after Bristol wing Gabriel Ibitoye was yellow-carded for pushing a player off the ball, and Knight went over from close range, with Lozowski adding the extras.
Both defences were under pressure, and Bristol struck again midway through a free-flowing opening quarter when replacement Benjamin Elizalde weaved his way through some weak tackling and sent support runner Randall over for an outstanding try.
It was non-stop entertainment, and another thrilling passage of play that began with Bristol attacking through full-back Rich Lane’s long-range break and ended when Daly freed Segun, whose brilliant finish was turned into a seven-pointer and Lozowski’s conversion edged his team ahead.
Bristol almost regained the lead six minutes before half-time, but Fricker was denied by Daly’s outstanding cover tackle, yet they were immediately back on the attack and Harding claimed his second try, converted by MacGinty.
Saracens still had a chance to get more points on the board by the interval, though, and an angled Lozowski penalty ended a pulsating opening 40 minutes with Bristol leading 20-17.
Bristol came out firing for the second period, and they conjured a stunning score after just 51 seconds after Ibitoye beat four defenders, offloaded with one hand, and then Jenkins and Oghre combined before Harding completed his hat-trick.
MacGinty converted, and Bristol were at it again just four minutes later after Saracens fly-half Alex Goode had been sin-binned, striking from deep through another mesmerising move that was finished by Fricker.
But back came Saracens as Daly finished impressively, with Lozowski’s successful touchline conversion and a later penalty leaving his team 32-27 adrift midway through the third quarter.
A MacGinty penalty restored an eight-point advantage for Bristol, but Saracens remained in the contest as an absorbing encounter moved towards its closing stages.
And when Daly pounced for his second try with eight minutes left – again converted from wide out by Lozowski – the game was back in the balance.
And Lozowski settled the contest in dramatic fashion, holding his nerve as Saracens claimed a notable success on the road.
Teams
Bristol Bears: 15 Rich Lane, 14 Toby Fricker, 13 Jack Bates, 12 Joe Jenkins, 11 Gabriel Ibitoye, 10 AJ MacGinty, 9 Harry Randall, 8 Fitz Harding (c), 7 Santiago Grondona, 6 James Dun, 5 Joe Batley, 4 Josh Caulfield, 3 Max Lahiff, 2 Gabriel Oghre, 1 Ellis Genge
Replacements: 16 Harry Thacker, 17 Jake Woolmore, 18 George Kloska, 19 Joe Owen, 20 Benjamin Grondona, 21 Kieran Marmion, 22 Sam Worsley, 23 Benjamin Elizalde
Saracens: 15 Elliot Daly, 14 Tobias Elliott, 13 Alex Lozowski, 12 Josh Hallett, 11 Rotimi Segun, 10 Alex Goode, 9 Ivan van Zyl, 8 Tom Willis, 7 Toby Knight, 6 Theo McFarland, 5 Hugh Tizard, 4 Maro Itoje (c), 3 Marco Riccioni, 2 Theo Dan, 1 Rhys Carre
Replacements: 16 Jamie George, 17 Phil Brantingham, 18 Alec Clarey, 19 Nick Isiekwe, 20 Nathan Michelow, 21 Gareth Simpson, 22 Nick Tompkins, 23 Brandon Jackson
Venue: Ashton Gate
Kick-off: 15:05 BST
Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe
Assistant Referees: Jack Makepeace, Gareth Holsgrove
TMO: David Rose
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