Bath blitz sorry Sarries

Bath produced a rugby masterclass to secure a Guinness Premiership play-off spot by slaughtering Saracens 66-21 at the Rec.

Steve Meehan's men followed up their European Challenge Cup semi-final success over Sale with an utterly one-sided display as they ran in nine tries in front of their home faithful.

Daniel Browne, Olly Barkley, Michael Lipman, Joe Maddock, Butch James and Matt Banahan crossed the line in the opening 40 minutes as the home side stormed into a 45-0 lead at the interval.

Saracens got in the board through Adam Powell, and Kevin Yates, but any hopes of an unlikely comeback were soon put to the sword as Lipman and Barkley went over for their second tries before Andrew Higgins completed the rout.

Saracens went into the game looking to bounce back from their Heineken Cup semi-final heartache against Munster the previous week as Meehan's men eyed a bonus point win which would guarantee their play-off qualification.

Early domination

On a glorious evening in the South West, Bath flew out of the traps, and after Sarries prop Yates was caught offside Barkley found touch deep inside the Saracens 22.

A remarkable 15 phases of play followed from the hosts, but despite the visitors strong defence they conceded a penalty and Barkley slotted over his first points of the evening.

Almost immediately after the restart Bath scored their first try. Quick ball saw Lipman make the initial break before feeding Nick Abendanon, who offloaded to Browne for the Bath No.8 to dive under the posts and complete a flowing move.

The home side were rampant in the early stages and accumulated pressure was rewarded again when Barkley jinked his way through the game line and dived under the posts. He converted his own try to take the score to 17-0.

As Saracens struggled to string a succession of phases together the diminutive Lee Mears powered his way through two tackles, and Alex Crockett moved the ball along to Lipman whose early physical dominance was rewarded with a try.

Men against boys

The bonus-point score arrived aftter just half-an-hour. Mears drove a kick deep into the Sarries 22, late replacement Dan Scarborough misjudged the bounce and wing Maddock picked up the pieces to dive over the whitewash.

Barkley's touchline conversion bounced over via the post as Bath burst into a 31-0 lead. It was becoming men against boys in an utterly one-sided contest.

The Rec faithful could hardly believe their eyes just minutes later when Barkley pierced the Sarries defence with an inch perfect kick and James ran clear to collect the ball and score his second try of the season.

Bath notched their sixth try of the opening period as their first half domination continued. Saracens made a rare visit to the Bath 22 but Abendanon intercepted the loose ball and fed Banahan who ran nearly the length of the field to dive over for his 10th Guinness Premiership try of the campaign.

Sarries fightback

Saracens finally got on the board eight minutes into the second half when Powell pounced on James' loose pass to run clear.

Things went from bad to worse for James as he was sent to the sin bin moments later after he was guilty of taking an opposing player out.

Saracens capitalised on their man advantage as Yates bundled his way over the line moments later - Glen Jackson's conversion bringing the score to 45-14.

Any distant thoughts of a Sarries comeback were quickly dashed though when Lipman and Barkley added further tries.

Fijian Kameli Ratuvou burst clear late on for Sarries' third score of the evening, but there was still time for Higgins to score Bath's ninth and final try with a swift break in the dying seconds.