Bristol made just the one change from the opening day victory against Worcester with Sam Cox re-establishing his centre partnership with Rob Higgett. Before the game my son asked how I thought the game would go and I said it would be close with Bristol just shading it. He thought it would be a draw and I have now asked him to supply the lottery numbers for this week!

The conditions were a marked contrast to last weekend, with the Memorial Ground baking in the late summer sun. Ideal for a feast of running rugby it appeared. Indeed the early exchanges promised as much with the Bristol pack mauling its way down field. This was followed by a great little chip by Josh Taumalolo which should have given Craig Morgan a clear run a the line but the rugby ball obeyed its own perverse laws of physics and bounced at right angles to its direction of flight away from the winger. Saracens now struck from their first real possession, taking a lineout and moving into the Bristol 22. Simon Raiwalui made some good ground into a disorganised Bristol defence and flung an excellent long pass to Dan Scarborough out on the left who dummied his way through the confused defenders to score a fine try. Jackson duly converted to make it 0 – 7 with just 5 minutes played.

Jason Strange struck back for Bristol with a long range penalty on 12 minutes as Saracens scrabbled with the ball and then held on for an instant too long. By now the pattern of the game was clear; not a festival of free flowing rugby but instead a catalogue of basic errors, poor decisions and missed kicks. The only explanation can have been the appalling weather conditions which left the players too drained to do anything! Certainly not to complete any meaningful passages of play. Taumalolo strove a to make counter-attacking breaks, but lacked support and composure, knocking-on too frequently for comfort. Saracens attempted to utilise their big forwards through the midfield, but the Bristol defence, after its earlier weakness, had reverted to something like we saw at Worcester and they never succeeded in manufacturing a real opening. Sadly this was to be the tale of the remainder of the half, with poor execution of what few ideas either side had. The second half would surely serve up better fare as both coaching teams would have plenty to say.

What little we had seen from Bristol had come via the forwards and as the half got under way they showed that they could force their way through a defence when the more fragmented Saracen’s efforts had failed. Shaun Perry, who had a poor first half by his recent standards (and in front of the watching Andy ‘Born-offside’ Robinson too) kicked into the Saracens defence, but Scarbrough was caught in possession. The forwards launched an ominous drive, only for an accidental offside to bring it to a halt. Was the poor execution of the first half continuing in the second? Yes, but not to the extent that, offered a second chance to win the ball at the lineout, the forwards were unable to take the ball, gather round and drive unstoppably over the line. Darren Crompton was driven over by his comrades and Bristol were in the lead 8 – 7 after 45 minutes. Strange was wide with the attempted conversion. As I had felt before the game it was proving to be a close affair. It was clear that the Bristol pack had the upper hand in the set-piece, but all too frequently they moved away from this area of dominance and sloppily carried out some moves which allowed Saracens to remain in the game.

Saracens had the chance to regain the lead with 12 minutes to go as Bristol infringed at a ruck as Saracens pressed the attack to the Bristol 22. Jackson though was well wide with the relatively easy chance and Bristol were off the hook.

That was until Strange failed to make touch (an all too familiar Bristol failing), the ball passed in-field to Scarborough, who landed a long range drop goal to move the visitors back in front; 8 –10. There was still plenty of time for Bristol to strike back, but unfortunately it was Jackson who struck with another, somewhat easier, drop goal to edge Saracens two scores in front 8 – 13. With just minutes left Saracens conceded a penalty which Strange struck into the corner. The catch-and-drive followed only to be halted illegally. The referee spoke to the Saracens forwards as Bristol prepared to kick again to the corner, clearly a yellow card or penalty try was possible if Saracens attempted the same response. This time the ball was taken at the front of the line and the pack drove forward as the drive splintered and the majority crashed into touch, Perry kept hold of the ball and hurled through an unavailing last ditch tackle to bring up the equalising try in the corner. Sadly, Strange was narrowly wide with the last kick of the game to leave the final score tied at 13 – 13.