Du Toit scores to help Bath go top of the table

MATCH REPORT: Springbok prop Thomas du Toit and Henry Arundell sent Saracens crashing to defeat as Bath emerged from the international break with a 36-29 victory that propelled them two points clear at the top of the Prem.

With the title rivals on course for a 29-29 draw, Arundell pounced by running in his second try in the 76th minute, having also opened the scoring for the champions with an early intercept.

The decisive moment was made possible by the wing’s England team-mate Max Ojomoh, a final-quarter replacement who skilfully caught Finn Russell’s low pass and charged forward before timing the final pass to perfection.

Ojomoh was the matchwinner in England’s victory over Argentina a week ago, and this was another influential performance from the playmaker who is hoping to retain his Test place in the Six Nations.

It completed an impressive comeback from Bath, given they only took the lead for the first time in the 54th minute and had to respond after falling 0-14 behind following a lacklustre start.

Saracens seemed unstoppable as they plundered tries on each of their first two visits to the 22, Max Malins and Juan Martin Gonzalez rounding off precise and ambitious attacks.

Malins went over following an interchange down the left with Lucio Cinti after Noah Caluori had won an aerial duel on the opposite wing, pre-empting an attack from deep.

Tom Willis’ carry and off-load were instrumental in Gonzalez’s try, but it was Owen Farrell’s flat pass to the onrushing Ben Earl that made the score possible. Willis then limped off injured.

Any sense Saracens were coasting vanished when Bath hit back with a Russell penalty, and an Arundell intercept try from 80 metres out.

Arundell struck after England squad mate Caluori had completed a towering catch, only for the ball to be lost several phases later, but the home wing took partial revenge after he beat Arundell to a high ball soon after.

Saracens continued to be deadly in the opposition 22, however, with their next raid given momentum by centre Nick Tompkins making an effective, if unusual carry, and ending with Malins strolling over.

A long-range Farrell drop goal followed, but Bath stayed in the hunt with a line-out maul finished by Tom Dunn, and their power game continued to serve them well early in the second half.

For all the forward pick-and-goes, it was a moment of deception that undid Saracens with Ben Spencer passing a tap penalty to Will Butt to score just as it looked like his pack would carry again.

Bath were in full flight as they registered the bonus point when Arthur Green finished a sweeping move that included strong supporting roles for Josh Bayliss, Arundell and Spencer.

The rivals were proving hard to separate after the score was tied 29-29 once Gonzalez had finished a series of forward drives.

Elliot Daly, making his first appearance for Saracens since the British and Irish Lions tour, nudged a long-range penalty attempt wide as a grandstand finish beckoned in north London.

The tension grew until Arundell scored the winning try with five minutes left.

Scorers

For Saracens:
Tries: Malins 2, Gonzalez 2
Cons: Farrell 3
DG: Farrell

For Bath:
Tries: Arundell 2, Du Toit, Butt, Green
Cons: Russell 4
Pens: Russell

Teams

Saracens: 15 Elliot Daly, 14 Noah Caluori, 13 Lucio Cinti, 12 Nick Tompkins, 11 Max Malins, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Ivan van Zyl (captain), 8 Tom Willis, 7 Ben Earl, 6 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 5 Hugh Tizard, 4 Theo McFarland, 3 Marco Riccioni, 2 Theo Dan, 1 Rhys Carre
Replacements: 16 James Hadfield, 17 Eroni Mawi, 18 Marcus Street, 19 Harry Wilson, 20 Nick Isiekwe, 21 Charlie Bracken, 22 Fergus Burke, 23 Angus Hall

Bath: 15 Tom de Glanville, 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Will Butt, 11 Henry Arundell, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ben Spencer (captain), 8 Arthur Green, 7 Miles Reid, 6 Josh Bayliss, 5 Charlie Ewels, 4 Quinn Roux, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Tom Dunn, 1 Beno Obano
Replacements: 16 Dan Frost, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Will Stuart, 19 Ross Molony, 20 Ted Hill, 21 Tom Carr-Smith, 22 Max Ojomoh, 23 Cameron Redpath

Referee: Christophe Ridley
Assistant referees: Sara Cox, Simon Harding
TMO: Stuart Terheege