Saracens earn nervy victory

Saracens made it seven successive Guinness Premiership victories with a 12-11 win over Bath at the Recreation Ground.

The unbeaten leaders have recorded the best start to a Premiership campaign by any club since Newcastle managed 12 straight wins on the way to title glory in 1997.

The defeat for Bath, however, adds to their dismal start to the season, with just one win from nine starts in all competitions.

Bath worked hard throughout and a late try by captain Michael Claassens, following penalties from Ryan Davis and Jack Cuthbert, meant a nervy finish in a game which saw the visitors earn a deserved win.

Tussle

Saracens hooker Schalk Brits created a fourth minute try through a rampaging 40-metre break which saw him smash through weak Bath tackling and find centre Brad Barritt, who delivered the scoring pass to Andy Saull.

Glen Jackson's conversion made it 7-0 and the home side were further troubled when Ben Skirving limped off after 17 minutes on the field.

Bath opened their account moments later through a Davis penalty, which was followed by a touchline tussle involving Saracens scrum-half Neil de Kock and Bath lock Danny Grewcock.

Referee Chris White decided it warranted no further action but was forced to produce a yellow card later in the first half when Tom Cheeseman tackled Saracens full-back Alex Goode off the ball.

The visitors' forwards established a strong attacking platform and Noah Cato wriggled out of Bath prop David Flatman's attempted tackle for a try that made it 12-3 at the break.

Tactical kicking

A long-range Cuthbert penalty at the start of the second half narrowed the deficit yet Jackson continued to keep Saracens' forwards in the right areas through his accomplished tactical kicking.

But his goalkicking was less impressive as a drifted penalty chance became his third miss from four attempts.

Bath remained in contention and Sarries were not helped when substitute prop Rhys Gill was yellow-carded five minutes from time, and no sooner had he departed than Claassens touched down for the home side.

Davis missed the touchline conversion attempt but Saracens still had to survive nine minutes of injury time, which despite Bath's best efforts, they successfully managed.