Bristol Bears played some of their best rugby of the season on Saturday but managed to conspire to lose 37-35 to Saracens at Ashton Gate.
Bristol captain Fitz Harding scored three tries to put Bristol in the driving seat – scrum-half Harry Randall and wing Toby Fricker also touched down – but Saracens showed admirable resilience. England star Elliot Daly scored two tries, with wing Rotimi Segun and flanker Toby Knight also scoring, while Lozowski kicked 17 points. 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.
READ MORE: Bristol Bears beaten by Saracens despite hat-trick from captain fantastic Fitz Harding
South West rugby writer John Evely takes a closer look at the individual performances of the Bristol Bears players…
15. Rich Lane – 8
The full-back is meant to be the ‘steady’ fill in for injured England star Max Malins but instead he proved to be the tip of the razor-sharp sword for the Bears as he repeatedly pierced through the Saracens defence with alarming ease.
14. Toby Fricker – 7
Making his second debut for the club having re-joined the Bears a couple of weeks ago as injury cover, the Welshman immediately looked at home and got himself on the scoresheet with a strong finish, although he really should have had two tries after his foot was narrowly forced into touch by Elliot Daly as he dove for the corner. Stepped too easily by Segun for the Saracens winger’s try.
13. Jack Bates – 6
Moved over from the wing to the centre to fill the void left by the injured Benhard Janse van Rensburg, the centre had the quietest game of the Bears backs and got isolated carrying off a kick-off to concede a penalty and missed a tackle on Daly that allowed the England ace the room he needed to break the line and score in the corner for the first of his brace.
12. Joe Jenkins – 8
The centre is bewildering. He isn’t particularly huge, nor is he particularly fast, and yet he found ways to break through Saracens’ defence time after time. A relentlessly impressive attacking display which has significantly grown his reputation.
11. Gabriel Ibitoye – 6
Coming into the game off the back of a hat-trick last weekend in the comeback win against Exeter Chiefs the winger absolutely terrorised the Saracens defence, typified by the incredible break from deep in his own half that saw him beat four defenders and give an unbelievable behind the back pass to Joe Jenkins that eventually led to Harding crossing for his hat-trick score. But, and it is a big but, he also picked up a needless yellow card for twice taking Daly out as the Saracens full-back ran in support of Elliot and then, crucially he lost his head as he drove over a ruck and played the arm of Gareth Simpson to concede the penalty that lost the Bears the game. It was a risk that was never worth the potential reward.
10. AJ MacGinty – 8
The USA international is just getting better with every game this season as he is carving teams open with his show and go and he made so many metres with the ball in hand, getting dragged down just short of the line after a stunning break on the outside arc and then going on his wonders again before releasing Fricker to score. Crucially and off day from kicking tee ended up hurting the Bears as he missed three of his five conversion attempts, while Alex Lozowski had a 100 percent day.
9. Harry Randall – 9
Playing in his final game for the Bears before going into camp with England ahead of the Autumn Nations Series, Randall probably played himself into the number nine jersey for his country as he electrified Ashton Gate in front of the on-watching Steve Borthwick. He showed his finishing prowess as well to take an inside pass from Benjamin Elizalde and power his way over the line.
1. Ellis Genge – 7
The England star, playing in his last game before the Autumn, had a couple of big carries in the loose and was solid in the scrum. In defence he put in some thunderous tackles.
2. Gabriel Oghre – 8
The hooker got a roaring ovation from Ashton Gate when he was replaced in the second half after another all action display, particularly as a ball carrier. Vitally, the lineout also functioned well during his time on the field.
3. Max Lahiff – 8
The tighthead anchored the scrum and offered plenty in the loose as well as he was a willing carrier in the tight exchanges.
4. Josh Caulfield – 7
The big lock took the lineout catch on the ground in a training ground move to set-up the dynamic maul that created Bristol’s first try, but left the game early with an injury.
5. Joe Batley – 8
The second row is in the form of his life and was again involved in so many of the key moments of the game, powering Harding over the line for his second and giving a subtle inside pass for the number eight’s second.
6. James Dun – 7
Dropped into the backrow to replace the injured Steven Luatau, the flanker was blasting rucks to provide the Bear with quick ball to play with which is essential for their attacking game to flourish.
7. Santiago Grondona – 7
The Argentine is a ball of energy, making tackles and carries and bouncing straight back to his feet to go again. It is like he is making up for all the missed time he has had with injuries. againEye-catching with the ball in hand agian.
8. Fitz Harding – 10
It took just a minute and six seconds for the Bristol Bears skipper to get the first of his three tries and he never took his foot off the gas as he had one of the games of his life. The skipper started and finished the attack for his second try, sending Grondona through a gap with an offload and then picking and powering over the line. The number eight then showed his speed, finishing potentially the team try of the year which started 90m further down the field before breaking out from his own 22 to spark the long-range score that was finished by Fricker.
Replacements:
16. Harry Thacker – 6
17. Jake Woolmore – 7
18. George Kloska – 7
19. Joe Owen – 7
20. Benjamin Grondona – 6
21. Kieran Marmion – 6
22. Sam Worsley – 6
23. Benjamin Elizalde – 8