Saracens 17-17 Bath: Late Tim Swinson try puts visitors’ Premiership semi-final hopes in doubt after Sarries fight back from 14-point deficit
- Saracens hosted Bath at Allianz Park on Sunday in their final Premiership game
- The visitors lead by 14 points as Bath looked on track to secure a semi-final spot
- However, after a fightback Tim Swinson’s late try put their place in jeopardy
Bath’s season was left in limbo after they blew a 14-point lead and missed the chance to guarantee their place in the play-offs.
Stuart Hooper’s side were six minutes away from securing their first ever victory at Allianz Park but ruefully left with a draw after a late try from Tim Swinson.
It leaves Bath stranded in fourth place, with Sale primed to leapfrog them into the semi-final spots if they beat Worcester on Wednesday night.
Saracens were able to stop Bath from securing a play-off spot on Sunday at Allianz Park
Sale can now jump over Bath if they beat Worcester in their delayed fixtures on Wednesday
Bath must return to training this week and prepare for a match that may not happen.
‘I’m gutted for the lads,’ said Bath director of rugby Stuart Hooper. ‘They’ve put in so much over the last 10 weeks.
‘We came here knowing that if we won we were in top four.
‘As it is, we wait until the semi-final and see what happens. Obviously, it’s disappointing but we’ll see what happens in the week.
Come Wednesday evening we’ll see where we are. We want everyone to have a fair crack and opportunity to play. We’re still in it right now.’
Saracens ended a long and torrid season in the Premiership, completing their fall from grace
Victory was in Bath’s sights after they powered to a two-try lead, with Tom Dunn and Ben Spencer crossing the line as they outmuscled their opponents.
They were physically dominant with the wind behind them in the first-half, as the hosts lost Dom Morris and Jackson Wray to injury.
But for Saracens, this was their final swansong before being relegated to the Championship.
It was also a farewell for England scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth and injured captain Brad Barritt who was watching from the stands.
The hosts edged their way back into the contest as Manu Vunipola exchanged penalties with Rhys Priestland — and Bath gradually lost their grip in the rain.
Bath stormed to a 14-point lead but could not keep their composure as Sarries fought back
‘It was a proper Saracens performance in the second half,’ said director of rugby Mark McCall. ‘We had our backs to the wall and we needed to show some fight. We showed all the characteristics and qualities you would expect.’
Saracens’ pack were energised from quick-fire penalties at the set-piece, allowing them to enter Bath’s red zone.
A penalty try sparked their comeback, before Swinson scored from close-range, after Maro Itoje leapt on to a loose ball.
It proved to be their final act — leaving the play-off race in chaos before disappearing into the rugby wilderness.
Bath will now be watching nervously on Wednesday night if they want a play-off position
Next season’s Championship campaign remains in doubt and McCall admitted to having no idea when his side’s next fixture will take place.
‘Not knowing when we’re going to start is a little bit unsettling but it is what it is,’ said McCall. ‘I haven’t really been involved in those discussions.
‘We’ve discussed a few things but because of Covid it’s not as straight forward as just getting friendlies. We just need to take stock and look at those options.
‘We’ve seen a number of young players emerging over the last 10 months. The next seven or eight months is another great opportunity for them to get experience. We’re hopeful that if we can get ourselves back into the Premiership then we’ll have a good group of young players — as well as the ones we’ve retained.’