Alex Lozowski booted a penalty with the sport’s closing kick as Saracens claimed an exciting 37-35 Gallagher Premiership victory over Bristol at Ashton Gate.
Bristol captain Fitz Harding scored three tries to place the hosts within the driving seat – scrum-half Harry Randall and wing Toby Fricker additionally touched down – however Saracens confirmed admirable resilience.
Six days after dropping to Harlequins, Saracens struggled at occasions to deal with Bristol’s exhilarating attacking recreation, however full-back Elliot Daly scored tries, with wing Rotimi Segun and flanker Toby Knight additionally scoring, whereas Lozowski kicked 17 factors.
Fly-half AJ MacGinty landed two penalties and two conversions for Bristol, however they have been finally pipped on the submit as Lozowski struck three minutes into stoppage time to return Saracens to the Premiership summit in dramatic style.
How Saracens edge top-of-the-table thriller
Bristol delivered a right away assertion of intent when Harding opened the scoring after simply 107 seconds, earlier than a MacGinty penalty quickly after put them eight factors forward.
Saracens labored their method into the competition after Gabriel Ibitoye was yellow-carded for pushing a participant off the ball, as Knight went over from shut vary and Lozowski added the extras.
Bristol struck once more halfway by way of a free-flowing opening quarter when alternative Benjamin Elizalde weaved his method by way of and despatched assist runner Randall over, just for Saracens to regain the lead when Daly freed Segun for an excellent end.
Harding claimed his second attempt, which was transformed by MacGinty, however an angled Lozowski penalty ended a pulsating opening 40 minutes with Bristol’s lead reduce to 20-17.
Fitz Harding scored three tries for Bristol of their slender defeat
Bristol conjured a surprising rating after simply 51 seconds after the restart when Ibitoye beat 4 defenders and offloaded with one hand, then Jenkins and Oghre mixed to unencumber Harding to finish his hat-trick.
MacGinty transformed and the hosts elevated the lead 4 minutes later after Saracens fly-half Alex Goode had been sin-binned, putting from deep by way of one other mesmerising transfer that was completed by Fricker.
Toby Fricker prolonged Bristol’s benefit within the second half
Saracens battled again as Daly completed impressively, with Lozowski’s profitable touchline conversion and a later penalty leaving his staff 32-27 adrift halfway by way of the third quarter.
A MacGinty penalty restored an eight-point benefit for Bristol, however Daly pounced for Saracens for his second attempt with eight minutes left – once more transformed from vast out by Lozowski – to place the sport within the steadiness.
Lozowski then settled the competition in exceptional style with the ultimate kick of the sport, changing his penalty within the 83rd minute to grab victory from Bristol and soar Saracens high of the desk.
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