SARACENS got their title bid back on track with a hard-earned 26-20 win over Bath in the Guinness Premiership at Vicarage Road this afternoon.

The victory over Steve Meehan's high-flyers was their first in the league for three matches following poor defeats to Newcastle and Bristol.

Alan Gaffney's side held a 13-5 half-time lead thanks to full-back Brent Russell's converted try and two Glen Jackson penalties.

Bath had enjoyed a brief lead through a Butch James score and there could have been just a point in it at the break had Matt Banahan not been denied by a crucial intervention from Alan Dickens, the back-up scrum-half in for Sarries skipper Neil de Kock, who fell victim to a slight hamstring strain.

Olly Barkley's 50th minute converted try dragged Bath into contention before Russell raced over the whitewash for his second of the game.

Jackson kept the scoreboard ticking over with two penalties before Bath replacement flanker Johnny Faamatuainu reduced the gap to 26-20 with three minutes left.

However, just as they did at Glasgow last week, Sarries expertly ran down the clock to secure a crucial win over their play-off rivals.

The hosts took a fourth minute lead via Jackson's boot before Bath launched the first noteable attack of the game.

After incoming Sarrie Steve Borthwick had punched a hole through the Men in Black's defence, the visitors weaved together several neat phases of play which saw number eight Daniel Browne go close. However, referee Dean Richards brought back play for a Bath penalty but Olly Barkley pulled his kick well wide of target.

Sarries were struggling to make any offensive inroads and a few tasty tackles from both sides started to fly in with just over 15 minutes on the clock.

It was Bath who were more industrious going forward and their perseverance was rewarded after 22 minutes. From a near-side five metre line-out, Steve Meehan's men whipped the ball across-field from left to right before South African centre James broke two tackles to clamber over in the corner. He injured his right wrist in the process and was replaced by Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu.

Minutes later, Saracens hit back with a try of their own. After just about winning their own line-out at Bath's 22 metre line, a full-stretch Dickens span the ball out for Jackson who put Farrell on the charge. Quick ball found its way to full-back Russell and the South African pocket rocket hared through a huge gap en route to the posts for his second try of the season after the remains of the Bath defence were caught flat-footed. Jackson added the extras for 10-5.

The game started to open up and the lead would have switched hands again minutes later had it not been for a crucial ankle tap by Dickens on wing Banahan just metres from the try line.

Bath continued to probe but Sarries weathered the storm and almost extended their lead when flanker Kris Chesney took Jackson's blind off-load and stormed through a gap in the middle of the park before his lumbering frame was brought crashing to the ground.

The Men in Black continued to turn the screw and Jackson extended his side's lead to 13-5 with his second penalty on the stroke of half-time.

Sarries suffered a double blow just minutes into the second half when flanker David Seymour (leg) and stand-in captain Andy Farrell were forced off injured. They were replaced by former Watford Grammar School for Boys pupil Don Barrell and Francisco Leonelli.

The blue-booted Argentine moved to the left wing while Rodd Penney slotted in at outside centre alongside Adam Powell, who took up his more familar 12 berth.

A powerful catch and drive from Bath saw Andrew Higgins race away on the blind-side before Russell responded with a probing run of his own.

However, Bath regained possession and dragged themselves to within a point when Barkley darted over after taking Michael Lipman's neat pass in his stride. The England centre converted his own score to reduce the gap to 13-12.

Jackson nailed his third three pointer soon after before playing a crucial part in Sarries' second try of the game.

The Kiwi gathered his own chip and chase in the middle before passing to Powell who showed great awareness to immediately palm the ball onto Russell. The speedster pinned back his ears and darted under the posts. Jackson added the extras for 23-12.

Barkley and Jackson then traded penalties as the game suffered a rare lull. Sarries' cult hero Cencus Johnston then left England hooker Matt Stevens dazed with a fierce shoulder charge as Bath tried to build momentum.

They managed it and with three minutes remaining reduced the gap to six points when Faamatuainu flattened last man Russell to crash over in the right corner.

Sarries, however, remained composed and patient and retained the ball until the final whistle for a vital four points.

Saracens: Russell, Haughton, Powell, Farrell (cpt), Penney, Jackson, Dickens; Lloyd, Ongaro, Johnston, Ryder, Vyvyan, Chesney, Seymour, Skirving.

Replacements: Barrell for Seymour, 42; Leonelli for Farrell, 43; Kyriacou for Ongaro, 55; Gustard for Vyvyan, 63.

Referee: Dean Richards.

Attendance: 9,952.

Man-of-the-match: Nick Lloyd.

Scoring sequence: 3-0/3-5/8-5/10-5/13-5 HT/13-10/13-12/16-12/21-12/23-12/23-15/26-15/26-20