Saracens vs Bristol Bears LIVE: Result and reaction from Premiership match today
Re-live the latest action from Allianz Park as reigning champions Saracens look to continue their relegation survival efforts against top-four chasing Bristol
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Your support makes all the difference.Follow the latest updates live from the Premiership clash between Saracens and Bristol Bears at Allianz Park.
In what has been a tumultuous season at Saracens already, the reigning Premiership champions face one of the most-improved teams this season in the shape of Pat Lam’s Bristol looking to claw back further ground on the pack following their 35-point deduction for breaching the salary cap.
But Bristol, flying high in second place, could go top of the table with a victory and will plan on causing a major upset at Allianz Park to not only continue their strong start to the season but send out a major statement of their title credentials. Follow the live updates below.
When is it?
Saracens vs Bristol takes place at Allianz Park on Saturday 21 December.
What time does it start?
The match kicks off at 3pm.
Where can I watch it?
The game will not be shown live on television in the United Kingdom, but you can follow live updates from Allianz Park with The Independent.
Teams
Saracens: Max Malins; Sean Maitland, Nick Tompkins, Brad Barritt, Elliot Daly; Owen Farrell, Ben Spencer; Mako Vunipola, Jamie George, Vincent Koch; Maro Itoje, George Kruis; Nick Isiekwe, Ben Earl, Billy Vunipola.
Replacements: Jack Singleton, Rhys Carre, Titi Lamositele, Will Skelton, Jackson Wray, Richard Wigglesworth, Duncan Taylor, Alex Lewington.
Bristol: Charles Piutau; Luke Morahan, Piers O;Conor, Sam Bedlow, Toby Fricker; Callum Sheedy, Andy Uren; Jake Woolmore, Harry Thacker, John Afoa; Joe Joyce, Chris Vui; Steven Luatua, Jake Heenan, Nathan Hughes.
Replacements: Will Capon, James Lay, Max Lahiff, Ed Holmes, Luke Hamilton, Harry Randall, Ioan Lloyd, Alapati Leiua.
Referee: Tom Foley
1 mins: Saracens 0-0 Bristol Bears
After a confusing start - Bristol shape to take the kick-off before referee Tom Foley decides it's Saracens who will start the game - we're underway. Farrell's kick-off should be taken by Kruis, but the lock drops it and Bristol clean up possession. Both teams are happy to test each other aerially, and Farrell is so deep he's starting the match off akin to a full-back in order to field anything from Uren and Sheedy alongside Malins.
Both Daly and Piutau make good leaping takes early, and when they both go up to contend one at the same time, Foley judges the Bristol man to have knocked on, giving Sarries a scrum on the opposition's 10m line.
4 mins: Saracens 0-0 Bristol Bears
Bristol get the decision at the scrum for an early shove from Saracens, but the quickly-taken kick is loose and doesn't find touch. Saracens attempt to get their first running play going as Bristol are caught offside, but there's no space for Earl down the right as Fricker barges him into touch. Back we come for the penalty, and Farrell finds touch on the 10m line.
7 mins: Saracens 0-0 Bristol Bears
Saracens make their first clear break. Spencer goes left to Farrell, who misses out Maitland on the wraparound and finds George. The England forward quickly offloads to Tompkins who creates the extra man and releases Daly, but his chip ahead goes into touch by the corner.
8 mins: Saracens 0-0 Bristol Bears
Saracens are getting into their stride and Spencer finds Earl on a beautiful line after Bristol cleared their lines from the five-metre lineout. Earl breaks the line, but Morahan covering on the left wing gets across and stops the flanker with a good tackle, causing him to knock-on in the process. That was possibly a try-saver there.
11 mins: Saracens 0-7 Bristol Bears
Well who saw that coming! Saracens were on the attack once again on the right-hand side in the Bristol half, but as Spencer tried to miss out Billy Vunipola to find Maitland out wide, scrum-half Uren picked him off. The nine sprinted away but had Daly for company - who is off course no slouch - but despite the wing stopping him the ball was dislodged free by Barritt into Bristol hands. The ball is thrown back to Sheedy, who sent a crossfield kick that just floats over Farrell's hands and into the waiting arms of Luke Morahan, who goes over to score.
Sheedy adds the conversion and it's 0-7.
12 mins: Saracens 0-7 Bristol Bears
Saracens nearly respond immediately, with Farrell finding Malins outside him and the full-back splitting the defence and just evading the hands of Luatua. He's eventually stopped but Spencer is on his inside shoulder, only for the scrum-half to knock-on some seven metres out.
14 mins: Saracens 7-7 Bristol Bears
Saracens get the free-kick at the scrum and Billy Vunipola goes quickly, making a big dent to the left. He has his older brother Mako Vunipola for company, and with George behind him there's no stopping the loosehead prop from a couple of metres out. Farrell converts, and the scores are level again. 7-7
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