Saracens’ EDF Energy Cup campaign ended this afternoon despite winning 24-22 at Bristol.

The Men in Black needed a bonus-point victory to have any chance of progressing to the semi-finals but an unimpressive first half display, with two tries for Bristol from David Lemi, left them struggling 16-6 down. They appeared to be limply heading out of the competition until tries in the last quarter from Noah Cato and Alex Goode earned them a narrow victory. But it was not enough to send them through to the knockout stage next year.

Eddie Jones picked his strongest available side for the trip to the Memorial Stadium. The director of rugby lost Steve Borthwick to England duty but he handed recalls to Glen Jackson, Michael Owen and Hugh Vyvyan for the final Pool D game. Rodd Penney was set to play but an injury in the warm up meant Edd Thrower replaced him. Bristol picked an experienced side despite being unable to qualify for the last four.

Adrian Jarvis missed the first opportunity for the hosts in the second minute when he sent his penalty attempt wide of the target. But the fly half had a much easier chance to score in the fifth minute and he handed Bristol an early lead. The home side dominated the opening ten minutes of the match as the Men in Black made a sluggish start.

Bristol scored the first try of the game in the 11th minute and it was no more than they deserved. A flowing move resulted in Vunga Lilo setting up Lemi for the score in the left-hand corner. Jarvis’ effort was never on target from the conversion. But Sarries got their first points on the board when Glen Jackson fired a penalty over from the centre of the pitch.

The visitors closed to within two points of Bristol in the 29th minute when Jackson kicked over their second penalty. But the home side missed another penalty when Jarvis’ effort drifted wide. Vyvyan was penalised for coming in from the side and it left Jarvis with a straight forward penalty from close range.

Saracens’ game was littered with handling errors and they wasted a good opportunity near the tryline when Jackson’s pass was knocked on by Thrower. And they spurned a penalty late on in the first half when Jackson failed to get enough distance on his kick. Bristol responded and earned a penalty on the halfway line. Jarvis’ ambitious effort deserved better but cannoned off the bar.

Bristol added their second try in the dying seconds of the half when Luke Eves’ dummy run created another score for Lemi. Saracens went off for the break looking hard pressed to salvage a result after a poor first-half as their semi-final hopes went out the window.

Jackson was given the chance to reduce the deficit in the second minute of the second period but he sent his kick the wrong side of the post. Another brilliant run by wing Lemi eventually resulted in a penalty to the home side and Chris Ashwin kicked over to make it 19-6. The Men in Black scored a third penalty in the 56th minute through Jackson but they still trailed by ten points.

Bristol were reduced to 14 men in the 63rd minute when Mat Turner was sin binned for a rash challenge. And Sarries finally made the breakthrough almost immediately afterwards when Cato went over in the corner for his fourth try in four starts. Jackson’s conversion made it 19-16.

Saracens went in front for the first time in the match ten minutes from time when Andy Farrell neatly set up Goode for a try in the left corner.

Bristol regained the narrowest of leads in the 75th minute when Ashwin kicked over another penalty. But the Men in Black were given a penalty straight from the restart which Jackson fired over to give them a slender win at the Memorial Stadium.

Bristol: Lilo, Arscott (Turner, 57), Brew (Ashwin, 39), Eves, Lemi, Jarvis, Beveridge; Clarke, Regan, Hobson (Crompton, 76), Winters, Budgett (Sidoli, 18), Salter (Pennycook, 56), El Abd, Ward-Smith Saracens: Goode, Penney, Powell, Farrell, Cato, Jackson, Rauluni; Lloyd, Cairns, Visagie, Ryder, Vyvyan, Skirving (Barrell, 54), Saull, Owen Scoring: 3-0, 8-0, 8-3, 8-6, 11-6, 16-6 HT 19-6, 19-9, 19-14, 19-16, 19-21, 22-21, 22-24 Referee: Gwyn Morris Attendance: 5,025