Saracens lay down statement of intent on return to Premiership with convincing win at Bristol

• Bristol Bears 9 Saracens 26

As statements of intent go, it is hard to think of a more emphatic one made by Saracens at Ashton Gate on Friday night.

After a year of soul-searching and rehabilitation in the Championship after their salary-cap breaches, Mark McCall’s side produced a performance of grit and defensive resilience, embellished by a sensational kicking performance by Alex Lowozki, that was reminiscent of their Premiership winning-pomp.

The match may have lacked the high-octane entertainment of its billing, while the impact of the new laws - designed to make the game more attacking as well as safer - appeared minimal. But it did not lack significance.

The manner of Saracens’ victory, missing five Lions and away at the team who finished top of the league last season, will have echoed beyond the South West.

Lozowski was their talisman, kicking seven penalties, many from long-range, which eventually swung a cagey affair convincingly to Saracens, and it was his chip-kick that culminated in the try late by Alex Lewington that capped the victory in front of the crowd of 19,003 - the biggest rugby union crowd since England faced Wales at Twickenham in March last year before the first lockdown.

“Alex was outstanding - he was incredible,” said McCall. “He did that four years ago when he came to the club and Owen (Farrell) was unavailable.

“There was a collective energy and it is magic to be part of as a coach.

“We talked about not worrying too much as we knew we were playing a very good side.

“They get a gold star for unity and effort. We will get stronger as the year gets on, but it is only one game. We are delighted to be back and were a bit unsure where we are at as we hadn't played at this level for 20 months. I feel really proud as that was a young team with 20,000 Bristol fans against a side who came top last year.”

It was the defensive relentless and scrummaging prowess that underpinned Saracens' victory, and a doggedness to overturn a 9-3 deficit during a critical period either side of the interval.

Bristol were restricted to a strangely muted display, managing only three penalties by Callum Sheedy and the performance of their opponents’ was not lost on Lam.

“It's been a couple of years that we haven't scored a try - we missed chances,” said Lam. “But you have to credit Sarries, they are back and hassled us right the way through.

“Everyone knows that's why they are favourites. They went down as the same group and have come back again - it will be tough right through the year. But we made too many mistakes.

“We just lost control the 10 minutes before and after half-time and were chasing the game. It wasn't to be and we will move on.”

There had been little to separate the sides in the opening exchanges, with Sheedy and Lozowski swapping penalties before Bristol appeared to seize momentum with two more penalties by their fly-half.

A stunning break by Charles Piutau almost created a try for Ioan Lloyd but it would prove a rare incursion into the red zone and the remainder of the half saw both sides stuck in the middle of the pitch; the stalemate was underscored with Lozowski landing two more penalties to leave the scores locked at nine points apiece at the interval.

The caginess was understandable from Saracens, given this was their first return to Premiership action after their year of rehabilitation in the Championship but it was frustrating to see a Bristol side with such potent attacking options playing within themselves.

The absence of energy-sapping tempo suited Saracens, whose edge at scrum time won another penalty, with Lozowski converting to nudge his side into the lead for the first time and from there their control of the game tightened ever further.

It was the effervescent Harry Thacker that eventually provided the spark for Lam’s side with a jagging break, taking him deep into the Saracens’ 22 and reigniting the crowd, but by then Bristol were already chasing the game and, after failing to score from kicking a penalty to the corner, Saracens’ overwhelming defence left Bristol with nowhere to go. Lozowski turned the screw with three more penalties before his perfectly-placed chip saw Lewington score in the right hand corner.

The perfect finish for a perfect return to the top flight for McCall’s side. Bristol will surely improve, but so ominously, will Saracens.

Match details

Bristol: Piutau, Adeolokun, O'Connor, Leiua, Lloyd, Sheedy, Uren, Woolmore, Thacker, Lahiff, Holmes, Vui, Luatua, D. Thomas, Hughes.
Replacements: Capon, Y. Thomas, Armstrong, Attwood, Heenan, Randall, Bedlow, Bates.

Saracens: Obatoyinbo, Lewington, Morris, Tompkins, Segun, Lozowski, Davies, Adams-Hale, Woolstencroft, Riccioni, Isiekwe, Swinson, Wray, Earl, B. Vunipola.
Replacements: Pifeleti, Barrington, Clarey, Hunter-Hill, Reffell, Simpson, M. Vunipola, Harris.

Referee: Wayne Barnes

Attendance: 19,003