De Koch, Brown take their final bow

RETIRING Saracens scrum-half Neil De Kock and flanker Kelly Brown were given rousing sendoffs after their final home appearances.

De Kock said: “It feels weird but the season isn't over and we'll get our bibs on again on Monday and prepare the boys for big games.

“We didn't produce the performance we wanted and Bristol frustrated us, but we found a way to win.”

Brown added: “Some coaches would have been screaming and shouting at half-time, but our guys were calm and we sorted it out.”

TEAMS

SARACENS: Goode 6 (Gallagher 74, 6), Ashton 7, Tompkins 8, Lozowski 7, Wyles 5 (Ellery 64, 6), Farrell (c) 5, De Kock 6 (Wigglesworth 50, 7), M Vunipola 6 (Lamositele 55, 6), Brits 5 (George 55, 6), Koch 6 (Du Plessis 55, 7), Itoje 7, Kruis 6 (Hamilton 60, 6), Brown 6 (Earl 67, 6), Burger 6, B Vunipola 5

BRISTOL: Woodward 5 (Pisi 66, 5), Edwards 6, Hurrell 6, Henson 7 (Piutau 64, 6), Tovey 5, Searle 5, Mathewson 6 (Williams 60, 6), O'Connell 6 (Dawe 67, 6), Jones (c) 5 (Crumpton 60, 6), Cortes 5 (Ford-Robinson 41, 6), Phillips 5, Sorenson 5 (Glynn 60, 6), Jeffries 6, Robinson 7, Eadie 6 (Fenton-Wells 65, 6)

REFEREE: Andrew Jackson

ATTENDANCE: 10,000

Star man

Nick Tomkins – Saracens

Saracens' experimental midfield of Lozowski and Tompkins took time to gel but boss Mark McCall was happy with their display.

He said: “Nick was bright and we were keen to see Alex at No.12 and it was an encouraging display.”

Lions and England star Mako Vunipola looked in discomfort with a heavily strapped left knee, but McCall insisted: “He's fine. No issues.”

Bristol coach Mark Tainton lamented: “You need to score tries to beat a side like Saracens and we didn't fire enough shots.”