All Goode for Saracens

Saracens kept the heat on league leaders Leicester and left Bath's play-off hopes hanging by a thread with a battling 20-9 victory at Vicarage Road.

England wing David Strettle scored the only try of the match, however it was a 15-point haul from the boot of full-back Alex Goode which set up the victory.

The four points gained reduces the gap between second-placed Sarries and league leaders Leicester back to three points following the Tigers' victory over Harlequins on Saturday.

Bath, who are now 13 points adrift of fourth place, claimed all of their nine points through Butch James, who kicked three penalties.

Promising

Apart from collapsing in the first scrum of the match, Saracens' pack, which included former Bath prop Matt Stevens, were in control throughout and dominated the final quarter.

Bath fly-half James failed to punish the early error from the home side and Goode was less wasteful shortly after.

Saracens cranked up the pressure with Chris Wyles held up over the line. The onslaught continued, however, with only a cruel bounce off Owen Farrell's chip preventing winger James Short from touching down in the left corner.

Goode ended the passage of play with his second penalty and it did not look like Bath's day when a promising spell fell foul of referee Nigel Owens' whistle for offside.

Saracens had controlled much of the half but their supremacy appeared to have slipped in the final 10 minutes when their opponents finally managed to retain possession.

A penalty by James saw them rewarded on the scoreboard, but the South African then kicked out on the full, giving Saracens the platform they needed to launch an injury-time assault.

Waves of attacks swept them into the 22 before Strettle, who profited from a classy offload from Stevens, supplied the injection of pace to crash over under pressure.

Ugly

The second half started the way the first had ended with Strettle picking a great line to burst into space, though this time he was tackled as he searched in vain for support.

Bath's commitment meant play was ugly at times, but they continued to be squeezed out of the game.

Goode and James exchanged penalties, but Saracens were still in control with centre Shontayne Hape, back from England duty, executing a try-saving tackle on Brad Barritt.

The lead was extended to 20-9 when two Goode penalties, the second arriving after Luke Watson had dithered close to his line, sandwiched three points from James.

Matt Banahan ran the length of the pitch in the last minute after picking off an intercept pass, but Owens had spotted an earlier infringement and the England winger was called back, ending Bath's hopes of securing a late bonus point.