Saracens continue perfect start

Saracens maintained their perfect start to the season to sit top of the Premiership with a 31-17 bonus-point victory over Bath on Sunday.

The Allianz Park outfit scored all their points in a pulsating first-half as two tries from David Strettle, one from Matt Stevens and Alex Goode's first Premiership try in 11 months gave them a 31-3 half-time lead.

Bath responded in the second half and scored 14 unanswered points in a strong fightback which saw Semesa Rokoduguni and Dave Attwood go over but the damage had been done and Sarries emerged as the only unbeaten side left in the Premiership.

Sarries started with intent and, after some strong ball carrying from Mako Vunipola, Bath conceded the first penalty of the game – Owen Farrell making no mistake to give his side the lead on three minutes.

Bath responded with a solid scrum deep inside Saracens' half which set up a great attacking position for the visitors and after the ball was lost forward inches from the try-line, Tom Heathcote levelled things up as referee JP Doyle came back for an early penalty.

On nine minutes, Bath stole a Saracens line-out as the ball was tapped back in their favour but it was Vunipola who reacted quickest to snatch up the loose ball and put his side in a strong attacking position.

The ball was quickly recycled and a series of slick passes eventually put the ball in Strettle's hands and the in-form wing raced in to score – Farrell adding the extras to take the score onto 10-3.

A defensive mix-up between Anthony Watson and Tom Biggs – both going for the same high ball and neither able to claim it – then gave Saracens a strong attacking position from which Goode touched down on his return.

Bath were really under the cosh at this point and after a series of Saracens line-outs and driving mauls, the pressure finally told and Stevens dived over for his side's third try.

Rob Webber was sent to the bin following a succession of penalties conceded by Bath on 32 minutes and following another line-out after his departure it was Stevens who went over.

And Mark McCall's side sealed the try bonus-point with the last action of the first-half through Strettle who touched down in the corner for his second of the afternoon – Farrell completed a perfect half of kicking to take the score to 31-3 at the break.

An excellent Watson break set up an early opportunity for Bath to score first in the second half but after spending much of the opening ten minutes in the Sarries half, they had no points to show for their efforts.

The first points of the second half did eventually go to Bath in the 57th minute but in rather fortunate circumstances as Rokoduguni intercepted a Goode pass and ran the length of the field to score under the posts.

George Ford, on as a half-time substitute for Heathcote, made a huge difference to the speed of Bath's play and after a clever break inside the final ten minutes, he was only denied a try by Chris Ashton.

On 75 minutes, Saracens replacement hooker Jamie George was penalised for throwing the ball in too early and Bath capitalised as Attwood touched down next to the post to give Bath their second try of the game.

They threatened to add a third as the clock ticked past the 80-minute mark but Saracens soaked up the pressure of a final Bath attack to seal their third straight bonus-point win.

The scorers:

For Saracens:

Tries: Strettle 2, Goode, Stevens

Cons: Farrell 4

Pen: Farrell

For Bath:

Tries: Rokoduguni, Attwood

Cons: Ford 2

Pen: Heathcote

Yellow card: Rob Webber (Bath, 32)

Teams:

Saracens: 15 Alex Goode, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Chris Wyles, 12 Duncan Taylor, 11 David Strettle; 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Richard Wigglesworth, 8 Ernst Joubert, 7 Jacques Burger, 6 Billy Vunipola, 5 George Kruis, 4 Steve Borthwick (captain), 3 Matt Stevens, 2 Schalk Brits, 1 Mako Vunipola.

Replacements: 16 Jamie George, 17 Rhys Gill, 18 James Johnston, 19 Alastair Hargreaves, 20 Kelly Brown, 21 Neil De Kock, 22 Nils Mordt, 23 Ben Ransom.

Bath: 15 Anthony Watson, 14 Semesa Rokoduguni, 13 Matt Banahan, 12 Gavin Henson, 11 Tom Biggs, 10 Tom Heathcote, 9 Martin Roberts, 8 Leroy Houston, 7 Guy Mercer, 6 Alafoti Fa'osiliva, 5 Dominic Day, 4 Stuart Hooper (captain), 3 David Wilson, 2 Rob Webber, 1 Anthony Perenise.

Replacements: 16 Tom Dunn, 17 Paul James, 18 Kane Palma-Newport, 19 Dave Attwood, 20 Matt Garvey, 21 Micky Young, 22 George Ford, 23 Jonathan Joseph.

Referee: JP Doyle

Assistant referees: Nigel Carrick & Stuart Terheege

TMO: David Sainsbury