Bristol 9-26 Saracens: Lozowski back with Sarries master class

A SUPERB performance from Alex Lozowski ensured that Saracens returned to the Premiership with a bang by stunning last season's table-toppers.

After a season away from the competition, which Lozowski spent on loan at Montpellier, the outside-half returned to kick 21 points and create the only try of the game for Alex Lewington.

Lozowski said: “The win means everything to us as we've had a tough time over the past 18 months so to be back here in front of a big crowd is amazing.

“I missed the boys last year so it is good to be back playing with my mates again. It's the best thing in the world.

“We know how big Bristol are but it was just a case of sticking together and everyone being on the same page in operating our systems.”

This was a massive statement from Saracens for even without their four missing Lions they were still able to strangle the life out of Bristol with a tremendous defensive effort from their pack and match-winning performances from Aled Davies at Lozowski at half-back.

Their back-row were also the better unit, their scrum held the upper hand and it was only in the lineout area that they faltered where Bristol nicked a few of their throws.

Despite being better in most areas, Saracens created only one try-scoring chance whereas Bristol created a number of opportunities but failed to take anyone of them.

However Bears were the ones trying to be creative, best summed up by the statistic that their fullback, Charles Piutau, made a total of 114 metres only 26 fewer than the whole of the Saracens put together.

Piutau is a remarkable talent but he couldn't do it alone as Bristol badly missed their Fijian superstar Semi Radradra and Luke Morahan, who was a late withdrawal with a back problem.

It's not all kicks: Alex Lewington celebrates scoring the game's only try

PICTURES: Getty Images

Ed Holmes and Harry Thacker worked tirelessly up front but their efforts went unrewarded as Bristol had no cohesion in their back-division with too many forced passes as they failed to come to terms with Saracens' blitz defence.

Bristol began strongly to take a 9-3 lead but were pegged back to 9-9 at the interval with Callum Sheedy and Lozowski kicking three penalties apiece.

The half was a dreadful start to the Premiership season with a remarkable 50 kicks recorded and the only moment of creativity coming from Piutau, who side-stepped spectacularly from deep inside his own half to almost send Ioan Lloyd over but for a trysaving tackle from Elliott Obatoyinbo.

After the restart, Lozowski put his side in front for the first time with three penalties before his well-placed grubber was collected by Lewington, who scored his 41st try in 110 appearances for the club. Bristol had three golden opportunities to score.

First Thacker split the defence apart but the move fizzled out, then Nathan Hughes knocked on when only five metres out, before Harry Randall made a clean break but Dan Thomas dropped his welldirected pass.

Bears' profligacy meant that it was the first time in 58 matches they had failed to cross the line, they last did so back in January 2019 against Exeter at Sandy Park.

By ROGER PANTING

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Bristol ………………9pts

Penalties: Sheedy 4, 15, 18

BRISTOL: Piutau 9 (Randall 64, 7), Adeolokun 5, O'Conor 6, Leiua 5, Lloyd 5 (Bates 59, 6), Sheedy 6, Uren 5 (Bedlow 69, 6), Woolmore 5 (Y Thomas 59, 6), Thacker 8 (Capon 59, 6), Lahiff 6 (Armstrong 64, 6), Vui 6, Holmes 7 (Attwood 71, 6), Luatua (c) 7 (Heenan 76, 6), Hughes 7, D.Thomas 6

Saracens ……….26pts

Tries: Lewington 70

Penalties: Lozowski 11, 32, 39, 44, 46, 59, 65

SARACENS: Obatayionbo 7, Lewington 7, Morris 7 (Manu Vunipola 76, 6), Tompkins 7, Segun 6 (Harris 76, 6), Lozowski 9, Davies 8 (Simpson 75, 6) Adams-Hale 7 (Barrington 53, 6), Woolstencroft 7 (Pifeleti 74, 6), Riccioni 8 (Clarey 56, 6), Isiekwe 7, Swinson 6 (Hunter-Hill 64, 6), Wray(c) 7, B Vunipola 7, Earl 7 (Reffell 71, 6)

REFEREE: Wayne Barnes

ATTENDANCE: 19,003

Star man: Alex Lozowski – Saracens