Gallagher Prem champions Bath were left in no doubt about their aspirations for another title as they reclaimed top spot with a 62-15 win over Saracens at the Rec.
The Londoners started brightly and were not short of effort, but Bath’s killer instinct earned them nine tries in front of an otherwise acceptable crowd. Scotland’s Finn Russell kicked 17 points with seven conversions and a penalty kick.
Russell and club skipper Ben Spencer are straight back in action after their respective countries suffered a setback in their Six Nations campaigns.
Saracens were quickest on the block, blocking Spencer’s box kick attempt and clearing Tobias Elliott’s corner kick attempt after just 70 seconds. Owen Farrell converted and added a penalty 13 minutes later as Bath struggled to find their rhythm.
Ollie Lawrence provided the much-needed reset, first pushing a crashed ball close to the tryline and then providing the tip-on for Will Muir to score from a five-metre scrum corner. Russell converted and delivered a huge 40-22 kick to put the pressure back on.
Ollie Lawrence is tackled by Saracens’ Nick Isiekwe.
Scotland back-row Josh Bayliss won the result from a lineout, recovering a loose ball to evade three defenders on his way to the tryline and Russell’s conversion put the home side 14-10 ahead after 20 minutes.
Back-to-back penalty awards for the visitors saw Alfie Barbeary capitalize on the opening of a catch-and-drive for the third Bath try.
A Theo Dan breakaway allowed Saracens to come back and force a penalty advantage leading to Elliott’s second try.
However, Henry Arundell’s 70m interception attempt soon secured a bonus point for Bath. Russell converted to end the half with a penalty for a 31-15 gap lead.
Alfie Barbeary scored one of Bath’s nine tries.
Saracens came out in determined form in the second half, but when they lost possession just in front of the Bath posts, the ball was cleared up the field and skipper Spencer had the chance to score from a corner.
Russell’s kick went wide but the strong Bath bench had no trouble putting Kepu Tuipulotu through in the 54th minute to put the game out of reach for the visitors. Another all-out counter-attack gave Arundell a second try 10 minutes later and Russell’s conversion made it 50 points.
England flanker Guy Pepper completed a brilliant move started by Russell on 22 and continued by Arundell and Lawrence. There was still time for replacement scrumhalf Bernard van der Linde to race away from the ruck for an unconverted ninth try.
