Farrell saves Saracens

Farrell: 23 points including decisive penalty

Saracens barely escaped suffering a second straight defeat after a last-gasp penalty from Owen Farrell led them to a 28-26 victory over Bath at the Rec.

The defending Aviva Premiership champions were one point behind heading into the final minute but snatched victory when Farrell's kick - the last of the game - hit both uprights and went over.

Bath outscored their opponents two tries to one as Nick Abendanon and Carl Fearns, as well as Sarries' James Short, all crossed the line in an open first half.

Things tightened up after the interval as the contest was reduced to a battle from the kicking tee, with Farrell's personal haul of 23 points eventually proving the difference.

The hosts took the lead in the second minute as Sam Vesty slotted over a simple penalty after Saracens had gone off their feet at the ruck, but Farrell soon levelled matters with three points of his own.

Lead

And the away side were ahead in the 12th minute as Farrell played in Short to cross the try-line from close range, with the former also adding the conversion.

But Short turned from hero to villain moments later as he let Vesty's chip go past him and Bath full-back Abendanon was on hand to collect and run the ball in.

An infringement in the scrum allowed Farrell to make it 13-10 with his second penalty and Sarries stayed ahead as the half-hour mark passed when Vesty missed a long-range effort.

Bath would be back in front before half-time, however, as Ben Skirving broke through before off-loading while off-balance to back-row partner Fearns, with Paul Roberts adding a difficult conversion to make it 17-13.

Farrell cut the deficit to one point shortly after the restart and when Bath did not roll away after the tackle, the young fly-half gave the visitors a 19-17 lead in the 50th minute

Penalties

Three minutes later, Farrell sent his fifth penalty through the posts after nailing a long-range attempt that looked to be drifting wide before curling back inside just at the right moment.

Bath finally managed to exert some pressure and Vesty reduced the gap with a penalty of his own before edging the hosts ahead when Andy Saull was punished for deliberately slowing the ball.

Saull was sin-binned for the offence but Saracens took advantage of a lapse of discipline from Ryan Caldwell to move two points ahead after another Farrell penalty.

Bath would be back in front straight from the restart, though, as deliberate obstruction from Mako Vunipola allowed Vesty to score another three points, while Charlie Hodgson's missed drop goal seemed to be Sarries' last chance.

But there was still time for Farrell to win it with the last kick, benefitting from a slice of fortune as only a lick of paint, well actually two, separated the sides.