Maro Itoje stars as Saracens make it five in a row, while Freddie Steward excels in Leicester’s win

Planet Rugby
Add as a preferred source on Google
England lock Maro Itoje in action for Saracens.

England lock Maro Itoje in action for Saracens.

Maro Itoje very much showed that he is back to his best after the England lock played a key role in Saracens’ 39-31 victory over Bristol Bears.

Following a fine display in the London derby against Harlequins last weekend, the 29-year-old backed it up by starring in Saturday’s encounter.

Itoje did not go into the Rugby World Cup in the best of form, but he turned that around in the global tournament and has continued to shine since returning to his club.

His class was very much needed after the Bears went into the break 21-15 ahead through Joe Batley, Ellis Genge and Gabriel Oghre tries.

Owen Farrell had given Sarries the lead, while Alex Lewington and Billy Vunipola also touched down in the first half, but the pivot was awry off the tee on all three occasions.

Despite Farrell’s kicking issues, it did not matter in the end result as Lewington, Jamie George (twice) and Tom Willis went over to complete their fifth successive Premiership triumph.

Click here for teams and scorers

The afternoon’s most effective scoring weapon was the maul and at this Mark McCall’s men excelled, using it as the platform to claim their opening try with Farrell wrestling his way over from close range.

Bristol had started full of intent but by the 12th minute they had conceded a second try as Lewington rounded off an accurate passage of play full of hard lines and sharp handling.

By building pressure through keeping the ball alive the Bears hit back when unmarked lock Batley rounded off a lively attack by going on the charge before touching down with an outstretched arm.

Saracens returned to their maul for their response with Vunipola dummying and slipping over but Bristol continued to show their teeth, with Max Malins growing more influential against his former club.

It became the visitors’ turn to cross through a line-out maul finished by Genge and when they added a second through the power of their pack – Oghre went over this time – they had snatched the lead.

Due to Farrell’s wayward kicking Saracens trailed 21-15 entering the break and his troubles continued into the second half when he sent a long-range penalty wide.

He delivered a pinpoint cross-field kick for Lewington to touch down again, however, and this time the conversion went over via a bounce off the left post.

Callum Sheedy slotted a penalty but Saracens built up a head of steam and after successive line-outs in the left corner they struck through George.

Bristol’s play became panicky and they were breached with 12 minutes left when Theo McFarland’s strong run was continued by Gareth Simpson until the strength of Willis finished the move.

But they refused to roll over and when Kieran Marmion rounded off a deadly break by Gabriel Ibitoye the game was blow wide open once again.

Saracens dominated the closing stages, however, and were rewarded with George’s second try which swept them out of reach.

Leicester make it back-to-back wins

Leicester wing Ollie Hassell-Collins scored two tries as Gloucester’s miserable home form continued in a 38-20 loss for a third consecutive defeat.

Saracens and Bath had previously won at Kingsholm but Gloucester were in contention to stop the rot until George Barton and Jack Clement were sin-binned in quick succession midway through the second half.

In their absence, Leicester scored 14 points and it proved decisive with Julian Montoya and Solomone Kata also on the try-scoring sheet. Handre Pollard added four penalties and three conversions.

George McGuigan and Jamal Ford-Robinson scored Gloucester’s tries, with Barton kicking two penalties and two conversions.

Pollard kicked Leicester into a third-minute lead before Barton missed the chance to level the scores when his 30-metre penalty rebounded back off a post.

Barton soon made amends by succeeding with a more difficult kick from the halfway line before Pollard was given another kickable opportunity.

However, Tigers opted for an attacking line-out and it proved the wrong call as stubborn defence kept out a succession of forward drives from the visitors’ pack.

Gloucester were able to relieve the pressure thanks to being awarded a couple of penalties and from the second, Barton missed the chance to give his side the lead for the first time.

The first 25 minutes were featureless and forgettable as both sides failed to take advantage of the ideal playing conditions and it came as no surprise that the next scoring opportunity came via a penalty.

It went Gloucester’s way but Barton again hit the post before his second success, a simple one, put his side in front.

Pollard responded with two penalties in quick succession before Tigers scored the opening try in the 38th minute.

A kick from Freddie Steward, who was named man of the match, won his side a five-metre scrum and after a number of phases, a long pass from the full-back gave Hassell-Collins the chance to round Santiago Carreras and score to give Leicester a 14-6 interval lead.

The second half continued in a similar vein with both scrum-halves, Mickey Young and Ben Youngs, still content to launch the ball skywards at every opportunity.

However, Gloucester got back into contention with a try from McGuigan as a result of an unstoppable line-out drive with Leicester’s lock, Ollie Chessum, yellow-carded for a high challenge.

The game looked set for a momentum swing but Barton immediately followed Chessum to the bin for a high challenge on Pollard and Tigers soon benefitted with a try from skipper Montoya.

Gloucester’s woes continued when No 8 Clement was sin-binned for a deliberate offside with their opponents capitalising by scoring the best try of the match.

On halfway, Steward fielded a clearance for Jasper Wiese to make ground before skilful handling sent Hassell-Collins over for his second.

Ford-Robinson reduced the arrears with Gloucester’s second try but Tigers sealed victory with a fourth penalty from Pollard and a bonus-point try from Kata.

READ MORE: George Ford penalty helps Sale Sharks edge Bath while Northampton win 69-point thriller

Bristol Maro Itoje

Related Articles