Richard Hill. Picture: Action Images.

Richard Hill signed off his enviable playing career on a winning note as Saracens came from behind to beat Bristol 25-20 at Stadium MK this afteroon.

While there was no doubt the occasion was all about the illustrious flanker it was two of Sarries' burgeoning youngsters who shared the plaudits, particularly in the first half. Debutant fly-half Alex Goode kicked five first half points while his England Under-20 colleague Noah Cato scored his second try in just his second Premiership start. Richard Haughton had crossed minutes earlier but Bristol took advantage of some nervy Sarries play to force themselves back into it.

Luke Eves' 24th minute try was converted by Ed Barnes before the Bristol fly-half struck his second penalty to reduce the gap to 15-13 at the break.

And it was the West Country side who forged ahead 12 minutes into the restart via another converted Eves score.

Goode's second three pointer after 68 minutes put Sarries back in touch before Kameli Ratuvou's 79th minute try sent Hill out on a high, something he had grown accustomed to during his glorious playing career.

After the formalities of Hill's entrance to a spine-tingling reception via Bristol's guard of honour, Sarries got down to business and Goode got them off the mark with his first senior points after Bristol failed to roll away after two minutes.

The 20-year-old was then called upon to convert Sarries' first score of the afternoon on 11 minutes. After forcing a knock-on at the Bristol 10 metre line the Men in Black worked the ball left and Kris Chesney's deft off-load put Haughton away. The full-back's dummy to Kameli Ratuvou fooled the remains of Bristol's defence, allowing him an easy passage under the posts. Goode converted.

Barnes replied with a penalty for Bristol but Sarries extended their lead futher a minute later. Powerful runs by Neil de Kock and Paul Gustard put the 'hosts' within sight and quick ball through several pairs of hands on the nearside saw the strapping Cato barge over in the right corner.

Bristol, however, regrouped and crossed the line after 24 minutes via a superb counter attack. Cato's dropped ball in the middle of the park allowed Bristol to move the ball left for David Lemi and the Samoan turned on the afterburners to ghost past Cato before allowing Eves to apply the finishing touch. Barnes converted.

It could have been all square minutes later as Bristol pounded away at the Sarries' defensive line but for a superb try-saving tackle by Haughton on Anthony Elliott on the farside.

Barnes slotted over his second penalty after Sarries were caught offside and Bristol could have felt aggrieved for being behind at the break having played the more enterprising rugby in a contest with a definite end of season feel about it.

Prop Cencus Johnston and fly-half Gordon Ross replaced Cobus Visagie and Haughton respectively minutes into the second half with Goode deployed to full-back.

Whether the changes proved to be unsettling or not is unclear as Bristol took the lead for the first time in the game moments later when Eves charged through the middle and crashed over to the left of the posts with two Sarries players clasped around his ankles. Barnes converted for 15-20.

The Men in Black reacted superbly, haring upfield only for Paul Gustard to knock on with plenty of team-mates in support.

Then it was the turn of sub Iain Fullarton to spill the ball forward as Sarries laboured their way towards the try-line. It was then Ratuvou's turn to try and conjure something out of nothing but he put too much fizz on his chip and chase after collecting replacement Rodd Penney's outside pass.

The Fijian then displayed some nifty footwork to squeeze past several Bristol players to put Sarries on the charge but more stubborn resistance from Bristol saw Goode claim a grateful three points with just 11 minutes left.

Ross, a target for some fans vitriol this season after some indifferent performances, then produced a glorious touch-finder from inside his onw 22 deep into Bristol territory as Sarries went for the kill.

They kept their composure and Adam Powell arced through midfield before lofting the ball out for man-of-the-match Ratuvou to cross in the left corner and send the thousands of Sarries fans into esctasy. Goode converted - there will be plenty more for him next season.

Saracens: Haughton, Cato, Sorrell, Powell, Ratuvou, Goode, de Kock (cpt); Lloyd, Cairns, Visagie, Ryder, Chesney, Gustard, Hill, Skirving.

Replacements: Johnston for Visagie, 37; Ross for Haughton, 39; Penney for Cato, 56; Fullarton for Chesney, Dickens for de Kock, 59; Barrell for Gustard, 69.

Attendance: 8,050.

Referee: Tim Wigglesworth.

Scoring sequence: 3-0/8-0/10-0/10-3/15-3/15-8/15-10/15-13 HT/15-18/15-20/18-20/23-20/25-20.

4:47pm Saturday 10th May 2008

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