Aviva Premiership

Bristol 0 Saracens 39

NOBODY expected Bristol to beat Saracens on Friday night but they did well in the first-half, holding the reining European and Aviva Premiership champions to a try, conversion and penalty.

But Saracens are not the team to beat in English rugby's highest league for nothing as they grabbed a bonus point victory in the second half.

Bristol stood up to Saracens in the opening half-hour and, while they were ten points behind, that must have felt like a mini victory for the team against the opposition.

Indeed, Saracens were there own worst ememies at moments during the first half when their handling let them down.

Saracens went ahead after 13 minutes when fly-half Alex Lozowski strolled through a huge gap in the Bristol defence to touch down unopposed for a simple try which scrum-half Ben Spencer converted.

Spencer added a penalty on 22 minutes to take Saracens into that ten point lead but Bristol's defence did well to keep Sarries out.

Bristol's biggest problem during the first half was that they just could not get possession and the territory the visitors enjoyed was enormous.

Director of rugby Andy Robinson could have few complaints at the break as Billy Vunipola added to the Saracens knock-on count as the clock reached forty minutes.

Saracens went further ahead after 42 minutes when Spencer booted a monster 45 metre penalty from almost half-way.

Things got worse for Bristol when replacement Adrian Jarvis, on for head injury assessment victim Will Hurrell, had a clearance kick inside his 22 charged down by Lozowski.

The ball ran free and over the Bristol try-line. Lozowski chased it and just got pressure on the ball for the touchdown which Spencer converted.

Saracens were 20-0 up but Bristol found something and rattled the double champions' cage, getting a couple of penalties. They went for the try but errors left them dry.

But Saracens hit back with full-back Chris Wykes finding plenty of room on the left to go over in the corner, with Lozowski taking over the kicking duties to land the conversion.

Bristol replacement hooker Max Crumpton did his side no favours towards the end when he was sin-binned as Saracens drove a maul from an attacking line out.

And seconds later, hooker Jamie George got Saracens' bonus point touchdown.

Bristol were under pressure in the dying minutes, and England lock George Kruse drove over to put the cherry on the cake for the visitors.