MATCH REPORT: Bath Rugby 21 Saracens 11
Bath Rugby climbed back to the top of the Aviva Premiership table thanks to a famous victory over previous leaders Saracens on Friday night.
The win was Bath's fourth from five matches so far this term, with the only loss being on the trip to champions Northampton Saints last time out.
It was also Bath's first league success over Sarries since 2010 and ends the Londoners' unbeaten start to the new campaign.
Mike Ford's side were inspired all over the park at The Rec, with tries coming from centres Jonathan Joseph and Kyle Eastmond, while the visitors replied with a touchdown for Chris Wyles.
Bath were on the front foot early on but it was Sarries who had the first chance to break the deadlock when the home side were penalised at the scrum. Fly-half Charlie Hodgson could not make them pay, however, when his kick came back off the posts.
But quickly hit back and got the opening try of the night after 12 minutes as Joseph claimed his fourth touchdown of the fledgling campaign.
The hosts actually lost a lineout in the Sarries half but quickly won the ball back. Fly-half George Ford sent up a high ball and visiting centre Duncan Taylor could not gather allowing Eastmond to collect and release Joseph, who had just enough pace to hold off winger Chris Ashton in the race to the line. Ford converted
Sarries got on the scoreboard midway through the first half when Bath were again deemed to have infringed at the scrum and this time Hodgson was able to split the posts.
Bath were soon back on the front foot and won three penalties in the Sarries half in the space of five minutes. Ford was unable to make the first two count but it was third time lucky as he finally extended the hosts' lead.
Sarries refused to let Bath get too far ahead, however, and full-back Alex Goode then knocked over a straightforward penalty, taking over kicking duties while Hodgson received treatment.
But Bath remained in the ascendancy right up until the break and a clever grubber kick from Olly Woodburn looked to have set up a second try but winger Semesa Rokoduguni was just beaten in the race to the line by Sarries centre Wyles.
Bath were able to pull further clear before the break, however, when Ashton was sent to the sin-bin in the final minute of the half for a deliberate knock-on, which ended a cracking Bath attack. Ford sent the penalty through the sticks to send his side into the changing rooms 13-6 to the good.
Ford missed the chance to pull Bath further clear six minutes after the restart when he sent a third kick of the night wide of the posts.
But Bath did not have to wait long for further points and had a second try two minutes later when flanker Alafoti Fa'osiliva broke through on halfway and got deep into Sarries territory. Quick ball allowed Joseph to continue the attack and he popped the ball to Eastmond, who just had the strength to hold off Kelly Brown to dot down. Ford was unable to add the extras.
Goode missed the chance to respond when a penalty came back off the posts before a good spell of Sarries pressure finally saw them get over the whitewash.
After a sustained attack the ball went wide to Wyles, who muscled through Gavin Henson's tackle to dot down. Goode could not convert.
Ford eased Bath's nerves with a penalty on the hour mark, although he then sent a further chance to extend his side's lead wide of the posts.
Sarries rallied late on but were held at bay by a determined Bath defence effort as they held on to record a memorable victory.
BATH RUGBY: Gavin Henson, Semesa Rokoduguni, Jonathan Joseph, Kyle Eastmond (Ollie Devoto 72), Olly Woodburn (Anthony Watson 59), George Ford, Chris Cook (Micky Young 61), Paul James (Nick Auterac 54), Rob Webber (Ross Batty 61), David Wilson (Henry Thomas 54), Stuart Hooper (capt) (Dominic Day 59), Dave Attwood, Alafoti Fa'osiliva, Guy Mercer (David Sisi 66), Leroy Houston.
Tries: Joseph, Eastmond Conversion: Ford Penalties: Ford 3
SARACENS: Alex Goode, Chris Ashton, Duncan Taylor, Chris Wyles, David Strettle, Charlie Hodgson, Neil de Kock, Rhys Gill, Jamie George, James Johnston, George Kruis, Alistair Hargreaves (capt), Kelly Brown, Jacques Burger, Billy Vunipola. Replacements: Scott Spurling, Richard Barrington, Kieran Longbottom, Jim Hamilton, Jackson Wray, Richard Wigglesworth, Nick Tompkins, Ben Ransom.
Try: Wyles Penalties: Hodgson, Goode
Referee: Greg Garner
Attendance: 13,314
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