Bath Saracens 17 – Combe Down 27
Bath Saracens are still waiting for their elusive first league win of the season. After the previous week’s disappointment of drawing with Colerne and having to concede the game due to a lack of front row players, they hoped to make amends in a local derby.
The Sarries were quickest out of the blocks, and took the lead after scrum half Owen Swabey touched down in the corner two minutes into the game. Combe Down soon responded with a try of their own, before the home side took control. A second try by winger Werner Vasseur saw Sarries regain the lead, and several chances to stretch their advantage were squandered before the interval.
The second half was a different story. The visitors enjoyed more possession and territory, and three tries saw them move into a 20 – 10 lead. The hosts then woke up again and started to put pressure on the visitors defence. They looked to be about to cross for their third try when the referee blew his whistle to attend to matters arising elsewhere on the pitch. Sarries continued to press before back row Jack Goodfriend bulldozed his way through the Combe Down defence to score their third try. The conversion added by fly half Alex Reilly saw the visitors lead cut to 3 points, going into the final minutes.
Sarries went on the attack again straight from the restart looking to grab a win at the death, however the visitors defence held firm. After regaining possession they ran in their fifth try of the game to secure a hard fought away win, and once again Sarries were left with nothing for their efforts.
Next Saturday see’s Sarries host fifth-placed Sutton Benger in a re-scheduled league fixture.
