Sarries out of EDF despite win

Saracens were unable to secure passage past the group stages of the EDF Energy Cup despite narrowly beating Bristol 24 - 22 at the Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

Saracens were denied a place in the semi-finals after Northampton Saints secured a bonus-point win over the Scarlets at Franklin's Gardens.

The visitors were forced to promote Edd Thrower from the bench before kick- off when right wing Rodd Penney injured himself in the pre-match warm-up.

But it was Bristol who took an early lead when fly half Adrian Jarvis, who had missed a 45-metre kick in the second minute, hit the target from 25-metres.

Keeping up the pressure, the hosts were rewarded when full-back Vunga Lilo fed winger David Lemi for the opening try.

Jarvis missed the conversion and Sarries fly-half Glen Jackson closed the gap, slotting a 25-metre penalty between the uprights.

Stretchered off

Bristol lock Nathan Budgett was stretchered off mid-way through the first half to be replaced by Robert Sidoli.

And Jackson further reduced the arrears for the visitors to two points with his second penalty on the half hour.

Almost immediately Jarvis was handed the opportunity to cancel out the points but again failed to find the target.

Five minutes before the break however he made amends with a straightforward 15-metre kick in front of the posts.

Before the break Jackson sliced a penalty and Jarvis rattled the crossbar with a long-range attempt before Lemi scored his second try of the game

The Samoan latched onto a neat tap pass from skipper Joe El Abd on the stroke of half-time to cross in the left corner and take Bristol into the interval leading 16-6.

Advantage

Jackson missed another penalty early in the second half, before Bristol hit back following a 50 metre break by Lemi after a lineout close to their own line.

Replacement centre Chris Ashwin added a penalty for Bristol but Jackson cancelled it out shortly after.

Saracens took advantage of the extra man when replacement wing Mat Turner was yellow carded midway through the half, Noah Cato going over in the left corner.

Jackson added the extras to take the scoreline to 19-16 entering the final quarter and Saracens' second try followed minutes later.

Skipper Andy Farrell handed the scoring pass to full-back Alex Goode, who crossed in the left corner to put the visitors into the lead for the first time

Ashwin and Jackson then exchanged penalties to complete the scoring.