Heartache for Bristol as Saracens overturn a 13-point lead
TWO tries from David Lemi could not prevent Bristol from losing as they let a 13-point lead slip against Saracens at the Memorial Stadium.
Bristol led 19-6 after 15 minutes of the second period but lost their way after Mat Turner was harshly yellow-carded for a dangerous tackle on Noah Cato.
The incident midway through the second half saw Turner sin-binned six minutes after coming off the bench to make his home debut – and seconds later Saracens had scored a converted try to decrease the deficit from 19-9 down to a 19-16.
They moved into a 21-19 lead while Turner was still off the field – and despite Chris Ashwin's penalty, which briefly restored Bristol's lead, Glen Jackson won it for the visitors with a late penalty.
There was further concern for head coach Richard Hill as lock Nathan Budgett was carried off on a stretcher with his right leg in a splint midway through the first half.
The Welsh lock was treated on the field for almost five minutes before being replaced by compatriot Robert Sidoli.
Bristol had made 13 changes from the side beaten 27-0 at Llanelli, with only centre Luke Eves and Matt Salter keeping their places as Hill took the opportunity to field his strongest available side.
And they took the lead on six minutes with an Adrian Jarvis penalty after Saracens had dived in at a ruck.
The 3-0 advantage soon became 8-0 when Lemi, back in the side after a wrist injury, continued where he left off before his absence by scoring a try.
Bristol won a penalty close to the Saracens line and opted to scrummage, before switching play to the left wing via Graeme Beveridge, Jarvis, Neil Brew and Vunga Lilo, who supplied the scoring pass for Lemi.
Jarvis missed the kick, and soon Saracens were back to within five points, Glen Jackson landing a penalty after the home side were guilty of blocking from the restart.
Bristol then lost Budgett with what appeared to be a serious injury, before Jackson kicked Saracens right back into contention with a second penalty, awarded for offside as Bristol desperately tried to regroup in defence after being carved open.
Jarvis, who had missed an earlier penalty and conversion, failed again when Bristol were awarded a penalty at a ruck to take his tally of missed points to eight.
But he kicked his side into an 11-6 lead when Saracens' Hugh Vyvyan was guilty of deliberately knocking the ball down 20 metres from his own line.
Jarvis then hit the crossbar with a penalty from an inch inside his own half – but Bristol were soon celebrating.
They added a second try after winning line-out ball and attacking with purpose, full-back Lilo leading the way before replacement Ashwin's jinking run and a clever tap from Joe El Abd put Lemi in for his second try.
Jarvis, who missed six of his eight first-half attempts at goal, was replaced by Ashwin at the start of the second period – and the youngster increased Bristol's advantage to 19-6 with his first attempt.
A host of replacements did little to aid the flow of the game, and Jackson's penalty when Bristol were punished for not releasing brought the score to 19-9.
Saracens were then handed a numerical advantage by referee Gwyn Morris when replacement Turner was cruelly sin-binned.
He was ruled to have committed a dangerous tackle on Cato – but appeared to be guilty of little more than standing his ground as the Saracens man gathered a high ball.
Seconds later, the visitors had scored a converted try – Cato going over with Jackson adding the extras.
And Bristol fell behind for the first time in the match when Saracens won a line-out on the right and spread possession left, Andy Farrell sending Alex Goode in to score.
Bristol restored their lead as Turner returned to the field, Ashwin thumping the ball between the sticks to see his side into a 22-21 advantage.
But a Jackson penalty, harshly awarded against Bristol for not releasing, swung the game back in the visitors' favour with eight minutes to play.
And Saracens held on for victory over Bristol as Lilo knocked on while stretching to gather a low pass in the final move of the game.
Bristol: V Lilo; T Arscott (M Turner 57), N Brew (C Ashwin 39), L Eves, D Lemi; A Jarvis, G Beveridge; A Clarke, M Regan (S Linklater 53), J Hobson (D Crompton 75), R Winters, N Budgett (R Sidoli 19), M Salter (R Pennycook 57), J El Abd (capt), D Ward-Smith. Rep not used: H Thomas.
Scorers: Tries – Lemi (2). Pens – Jarvis (2), Ashwin (2).
Sin-binned: Turner (63-74, dangerous tackle).
Saracens: A Goode; E Thrower, A Powell (K Sorrell 77), A Farrell (capt), N Cato; G Jackson, M Rauluni; N Lloyd, M Cairns, C Visagie, T Ryder (K Chesney 64), H Vyvyan, B Skirving (D Barrell 55), A Saull, M Owen. Reps not used: A Walker, T Mercey, K Chesney, M Wilson, K Sorrell, G Ross.
Scorers: Tries – Cato, Goode. Con – Jackson. Pens – Jackson (4).
Ref: G Morris (Wales). Att: 5,025.
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