Bath edge Saracens 36-29 as Arundell seals late win
Henry Arundell scores a late try to lift Bath to a 36-29 victory at Saracens, moving the visitors to the top of the Premiership after six rounds.
Premiership Rugby
Match snapshot
Saracens (29) 29
Tries: Malins 2, Gonzalez 2 Conversions: Farrell 3 Drop goal: Farrell
Bath (36) 36
Tries: Arundell 2, Du Toit, Butt, Green Conversions: Russell 4 Penalties: Russell
Bath pull off late drama at Saracens as Arundell seals the win
The reigning champions staged a 19-point unanswered spell to overturn a deficit, eventually sealing a 36-29 victory that puts Bath top of the Premiership after six rounds.
Two tries from Max Malins and one from Juan Martin Gonzalez gave Saracens a 14-0 lead early on, before Bath struck back with a 22- metre interception score from Henry Arundell. Bath then crossed again through Du Toit as the half ended with Saracens ahead 22-10.
Will Butt and Arthur Green gave Bath the lead for the first time, but Gonzalez struck again to set up a dramatic finale at 29-29.
Arundell then finished off a late Bath move with under four minutes remaining to secure the win.
Ongoing pressure from Saracens produced a disallowed try for Noah Caluori due to a knock-on by Eroni Mawi, before Gonzalez finally crossed again to push the home side back in front temporarily. Farrell converted to level the scores at 29-29 with around 20 minutes left, and Bath used their bench to energy the closing stages.
Bath then capitalised when Daly missed a long-range penalty, and Ojomoh's burst with a clever offload set up Arundell for the late seal.
What the coaches said
Van Graan on Bath: Bath refined their game plan in the second half and benefited from the impact off the bench as the clock wound down, delivering the decisive late score.
Mark McCall on the opening: We started strongly and built pressure, but lapses at key moments let Bath back into the game. Overall, we matched a very good Bath side for long spells.
Expert commentary
Analysts highlighted Bath's effective use of substitutes in the final 20 minutes, turning possession into points at crucial moments. The win underlines Bath's growing consistency in the league this season.
Summary
Bath produced a dramatic comeback to beat Saracens 36-29 away from home. The result lifts Bath to the top of the Premiership standings after six rounds, while Saracens drop to sixth following the loss. The match showcased Baths resilience and Arundells late-game influence as a game changer.
Key takeaway: Baths late-game pressure and strong bench impact in the final 20 minutes delivered a comeback win that puts them top of the standings. Source: BBC Sport