MATCH REPORT | Saracens Men 50-17 Bristol Bears
Saracens Men laid down a marker with an irresistible performance from start to finish to beat Bristol Bears 50-17 at StoneX Stadium.
The Original Club of North London scored seven tries, and never looked back after racing in to a healthy lead in the opening quarter to go top of the Gallagher PREM table.
Sarries got off to the perfect start and scored their first try after just three minutes. A penalty was kicked to the corner, and a beautiful one-two from Theo Dan and Rhys Carre sent the hooker over to show their intent early on. Farrell’s perfect touchline conversion made it 7-0.
It got even better after six minutes as the second try arrived, and this one was even better than the first. Rotimi Segun burst through a gap from inside his half and put them in to the Bristol territory, and then after going through the phases Nick Isiekwe hammered over from close range in front of the North Stand. Farrell was again on the money as the lead extended to 14 points.
Bristol were looking for a quick response but were being forced backwards by an incredible physical Wolfpack defence. Viliame Mata looked to take the visitors in to the 22, but he was met by Isiekwe and Hugh Tizard who hammered him back.
Max Malins then looked to sting his old side as he grubber ahead and almost touched down, but the Bears won the foot race and dotted down for a goal-line drop out.
The hosts earned a penalty from their next attack, and Farrell kicked it straight through the posts as the lead grew to 17-0 with as many minutes on the clock.
Malins then did show the Bears exactly what they are missing with a try of the season contender after 20 minutes. The full-back burst through a gap and audaciously offloaded behind his back to Ivan van Zyl, and then got it back from the scrum half and acrobatically dived over the line to finish. Farrell again added the extras to make it 24-0.
There was a lengthy break as referee Christophe Ridley had to be replaced due to injury, but that didn’t slow Sarries down as Bristol hammered away on their line but a brilliant turnover from Andy Onyeama-Christie forced a turnover with the whitewash within touching distance.
Mata was then sent a yellow card for a high tackle just before the break, and the visitors were punished straight away as Nick Tompkins crossed for the bonus point try. The penalty was kicked to the corner and then the centre broke away from the rolling maul and dived over to cap off what was an incredible opening 40 minutes from the home side.
Jack Bracken almost made it even better when he saw a gap and steamed through, but his pass was intercepted and the ball was kicked out for half time, as Sarries raced down the tunnel with a sensational 31-0 lead.
Bristol started the second half strongly and got their first points of the game just two minutes after the restart. Louis Rees-Zammit saw a gap and raced through, and then released Kieran Marmion who crossed in the corner.
Jack Bracken sent the home crowd wild as he crossed for a memorable try with 30 minutes to go as they once again took control. An overlap on the right wing released the young winger, and he stepped inside to cross for try number five. Once again Farrell converted, and the lead was now 38-5.
It got even better for the winger just three minutes later. The ball somehow popped up right in his hands after a frantic passage of play, and gave him a clear run over the line for his second try as the hosts continued to dominate.
The intent that Sarries had in attack and defence was shown on the hour mark when Bristol went through for what looked like a certain try, but Charlie Bracken’s brilliant tap tackle stopped them and forced a knock on.
Bristol did get their second just after the hour mark, a break from Louis Rees-Zammit took them up to the 22 and he had Marmion on his shoulder to run in his second of the game, cutting the lead to 43-12.
The Bears then began to smell hope of a bonus point, Marmion completed his hat-trick from close range in the 74th minute as they gave themselves five minutes to go for the fourth.
Sarries added further gloss to the scoreboard with just two minutes to go, Hugh Tizard rounded off a great display as he stretched over from just a metre out, and Farrell’s conversion brought up the half century.
That proved to be the last notable act as the Original Club of North London continued their impressive start to the new Gallagher PREM campaign.
