Saracens continue Bristol's losing run (From Watford Observer)

Saracens continue Bristol's losing run

10:27pm Wednesday 1st October 2008 in

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Saracens won their third game on the bounce to send the Premiership's bottom side Bristol to their twelfth consecutive defeat in the league.

Fly-half Glen Jackson was the deciding factor at the Memorial Ground, kicking 18 points in a game Saracens may feel fortunate to win.

It was Bristol who looked most dangerous in the opening stages, especially through the Arscott brothers Luke and Tom, but each time the home side would get close to Saracens' line the final ball was not good enough.

Despite their poor record this season, Richard Hill's men showed they were willing to run the ball where possible when they won a penalty and a certain three points early in the first half but decided to take a quick tap penalty. However the move didn't amount to anything as a number of their forwards were penalised for not staying on their feet.

Saracens first chance came when winger Rodd Penney broke away when standing in as scrum half, but Bristol showed great resiliance to hold the Saracens' forwards off on their own try line.

Eddie Jones' men then look set to score again but ended up knocking on. However they made up for the error by turning the scrum and winning the put in. From there Saracens' man-of-the-match from their last game Michael Owen, picked the ball up at the base of the scrum, fed Jackson who played the one-two with Adam Powell before putting Kameli Ratuvou in for an easy score in the corner. Unfortunately Jackson was unable to apply the conversion.

The lead didn't last long though. After Luke Arscott was stopped from scoring what seemed to be a relatively easy try in the corner, Bristol found themselves with numbers outside and David Lemi showed some jinking steps to break through and score under the posts. Adrian Jarvis, who was returning to the team after injury, was left with a simple kick.

The fly-half then added another three not long after when the Men in Black were penalised for not rolling away.

His opposite number has been in deadly form so far this season and any fears the away fans may have had of Jackson having an off-day were soon diminished when he slotted home a difficult kick.

He was then at the centre of their next scoring opportunity when his lovely delayed pass put Ratuvou in, but the Fijian slowed to allow his team mates to offer support rather than backing himself. And although the ball was eventually knocked on by Hugh Vyvyan, they were awarded a penalty meters away from the post, which Jackson duly put between the sticks to make it 11-10.

And that is how it stayed till half-time despite Bristol continuing to test Sarries' defence. Jarvis also had the chance to put his side ahead before the break but he missed a simple kick and it wasn't to be the last.

Any hopes Bristol had of getting off to a good start in the second period were dashed when Jackson added another three points to his tally from the off. But the home team continued to fight and could have gone ahead when they were awarded two penalties in quick succession, but Jarvis failed to land either.

And his night didn't get any better. Bristol did well to retain the ball from a lineout on their own try line, but Jarvis' kick was charged down and although the defence stayed strong and he was eventually able to kick the ball away, Ratuvou ran the ball back at them and won a penalty. Leaving Jackson to do what his counterpart seemed unable to do and kick the three points.

The game remained tight but Bristol's poor discipline again proved to be their downfall when they conceded another penalty and another three points to take the gap to ten.

But it wasn't only Bristol who were suffering from ill-discipline and Jarvis had a chance to redeem himself, only for him to miss another kick.

Bristol showed they were not dead and buried yet though when skipper Joe El Abd chased down Jackson's kick in his own half, forcing Ben Skirving into illegally slowing the ball, which landed him a yellow card and Bristol three points.

Kicking duties were handed to Ed Barnes and it seemed to be a smart move when he landed a second penalty soon after when Saracens were penalised for being offside but it was too little too late.

Jackson's kicking was impressive thoughout and not only from the tee, scoring with a drop goal to make sure of the win.