By Jason Harris (filed: 28/12/03
December 28 2003

Saracens kept Zurich Premiership leaders Bath in their sights throughout a close game at Vicarage Road on Sunday which ended 24-15 to the visitors. But despite his heroic efforts, Thomas Castaignede missed some vital kicks at goal that denied the Men in Black a bonus point and maybe even the win. The Saracens side was a vast improvement on the one hammered by Wasps a week earlier as they tried hard to play entertaining rugby and get their season back on track.

Castaignede opened the scoring with an early penalty before Olly Barkley put through a perfectly-weighted grubber kick which was latched onto by Mike Tindall. The England centre scored the try but had to be stretchered off with a nasty-looking leg injury; just another one in a long list of knocks taken by the decimated Bath backline. Barkley converted and added a penalty and the sides changed ends with the score 10-3 to the visitors.

The second half was full of action as Sarries tried to get back into the game. But straight from the opening kick-off, Bath centre Andrew Higgins swept aside some poor Saracens tackling to touch down in the right corner with Barkley again adding the extras.

Back came Sarries and their efforts were rewarded 15 minutes later when Paul Bailey went over on the right touchline and the try was goaled by Castaignede. 17-10.

The game was effectively sealed by a controversial penalty try at the start of the final quarter. Barkley kicked ahead up the left and as the ball headed for the north stand, the Bath outside half went crashing to the floor, seemingly due to a trip by Sarries' reserve fullback and former Bath player Robbie Kydd.

On the advice of the touch judge, referee Martin Fox awarded the five points which duly became seven as Barkley slotted over the two points from in front of the posts.

Sarries, to their credit, continued to fight on and but for some wayward place kicking and the usual problems in the lineout, perhaps they could have overturned the deficit.

Castaignede scored an injury-time and just had t kick the conversion which would have put Sarries within seven points of the leaders and into bonus point territory. But the Frenchman hurried his effort, placing the ball far too close to the goal line and as the ball left the kicking tee, it was charged down by the onrushing Bath players.

Another missed penalty kick deep into injury time meant that Sarries left the field pointless; a disappointing end to an entertaining match. Bath will have known that they were in a game and will be very pleased to take four points back down the M4 to mantain their lead at the top of the table.