Rugby Union Review | Saracens 50 - 17 Bristol Bears

Saracens hit Bristol for 50 to go top as Bracken stars on Premiership debut

The home side swept aside Bristol Bears with a commanding performance. 

Author | Ed

Stadium | StoneX Stadium

View from the stands

The hosts stormed into a 24-0 lead inside 21 minutes through converted tries from Theo Dan, Nick Isiekwe and Max Malins, alongside an Owen Farrell penalty. Nick Tompkins added a bonus-point try before half-time to make it 31-0 at the break, although Kieran Marmion hit back with a fine solo score soon after the restart.

Jack Bracken marked his Premiership debut with two second-half tries, while Marmion crossed twice more to complete a hat-trick in 31 minutes. Hugh Tizard’s late effort sealed a half-century for Saracens, who underlined their title credentials with a clinical display.

How Saracens eased to a comfortable victory

Bristol’s injury concerns deepened as Pat Lam’s side saw Joe Jenkins, Tom Jordan and Louis Rees-Zammit all forced off, adding to a list that already included Gabriel Ibitoye, Harry Randall and AJ MacGinty. Even referee Christophe Ridley was substituted after tripping over Tom Willis in a bizarre first-half incident.

View from the away end

Saracens began with ferocious intensity. Dan powered through Marmion’s tackle to score in the corner, before Rotimi Segun’s break set up Isiekwe from close range. Malins, back at the StoneX to face his former club, created and finished the third with a neat exchange with Ivan van Zyl before celebrating in style.

Defensively, the champions were equally impressive, twice turning the ball over on their own line to deny the Bears. With Viliame Mata in the sin bin, Tompkins drove over from a maul to cap a dominant first half in which Farrell contributed 15 points and a try assist.

Bristol rallied after the break as Rees-Zammit’s pace created Marmion’s first, but any hopes of a comeback were short-lived. Farrell’s looping pass found debutant Bracken for his first try before the 19-year-old added a second in quick succession. Charlie Bracken’s try-saving tackle prevented a Bears score, but Marmion struck again twice to complete his treble.

Tizard’s late try reinforced Saracens’ superiority, while Bristol’s frustrations were summed up when Harry Thacker’s final dive for a bonus-point score fell just short.