Bristol Bears were left broken-hearted as an 83rd minute Alex Lozowski penalty saw Saracens 37-35 claim yet another Gallagher Premiership victory over Bristol Bears at Ashton Gate.
Bristol captain Fitz Harding scored a hat-trick of tries to put Bristol in the driving seat – electric scrum-half Harry Randall and winger Toby Fricker also touched down – but Saracens never once looked like rolling over and ended up snatching their seventh straight win over the Bears. Lozowski struck three minutes into stoppage time as Saracens returned to the Premiership summit in breath-taking fashion. Six days after losing to Harlequins, Saracens struggled at times to cope with Bristol’s exhilarating attacking game, but some desperate defending and a brace of tries for full-back Elliot Daly, with wing Rotimi Segun and flanker Toby Knight also scoring, while Lozowski kicked 17 points, delivered victory.
READ MORE: Bristol Bears 35-37 Saracens LIVE: Full highlights and reaction from Ashton Gate
Fly-half AJ MacGinty landed two penalties and two conversions for Bristol, but they were ultimately pipped at the post in a Premiership clash of box-office proportions.
Post-match Bears director of rugby Pat Lam reflected on a missed opportunity for his side. He said: “We had a lot of opportunities we didn’t take. We left a lot of points out there but I can’t fault the effort of the boys. Of the two games we have lost of the six, this is another one that went down to the wire [like the 44-41 defeat to Gloucester], which shows the quality of Saracens. But we are certainly disappointed, we had the chances to win that game.”
Despite injuries to stalwarts Benhard Janse van Rensburg and Steven Luatua, the Bears’ 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 winger Gabriel Ibitoye was yellow-carded for pushing Daly off the ball as he ran a support line following a break by Elliot, 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, bounced off Lozowski and weaved his way through some weak tackling before sending 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 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 – who rejoined the club last week as injury cover – was denied by Daly’s outstanding cover tackle that forced his foot into touch as he attempted to dot down. But the Bears 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, 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 from the kicking te after Ibitoye gave away a needless penalty for playing the hand of replacement scrum-half Gareth Simpson as he looked to get the ball away at a ruck.
The two losing bonus points means the Bears will stay in the top four at the end of the weekend.
Bristol Bears: 15. Rich Lane, 14. Toby Fricker, 13. Jack Bates, 12. Joe Jenkins, 11. Gabriel Ibitoye, 10. AJ MacGinty, 9. Harry Randall; 1. Ellis Genge, 2. Gabriel Oghre, 3. Max Lahiff, 4. Josh Caulfield, 5. Joe Batley, 6. James Dun, 7. Santiago Grondona, 8. Fitz Harding (c)
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; 1 Rhys Carre, 2 Theo Dan, 3 Marco Riccioni, 4 Maro Itoje (capt), 5 Hugh Tizard, 6 Theo McFarland, 7 Toby Knight, 8 Tom Willis
Replacements: 16 Jamie George, 17 Phil Brantingham, 18 Alec Clarey, 19 Nick Isiekwe, 20 Nathan Michelo, 21 Gareth Simpson, 22 Tom Parton, 23 Brandon Jackson
Referee : Anthony Woodthorpe
Assistant Referees: Jack Makepeace and Gareth Holsgrove
TMO: David Rose