Australian Duncan McRae steered Saracens to their second successive Premiership victory as they won a thrilling contest against battling Bristol 34-23 at the Memorial Stadium.
McRae contributed 24 points through a try, five penalties and two conversions, recovering from a difficult start when his error gave Bristol a fifth minute try, having taken over the goal-kicking duties from absent Thomas Castaignede, who is getting married in France.
And his performance proved the difference between two fiercely competitive sides, with Saracens fighting back from a 16-10 interval deficit to score 19 unanswered points before Bristol flanker Adam Vander claimed a late consolation try. Unlike the free flowing exhibition against Gloucester last Sunday, Saracens were this time forced to dig deep, building victory around an aggressive forward effort in which England flanker Richard Hill provided an outstanding presence.
Bristol had their moments and competed throughout, but in the end ran out of steam as Saracens' greater quality finally proved conclusive. Bristol though, got off to a flying start when wing Dean Dewdney collected his second try in as many Premiership outings this term. McRae's intended cross-kick to centre Ben Johnston didn't find its intended target, and when the ball fell loose, Dewdney picked up and sprinted 80 metres to score.
Fly-half Gareth Bowen converted, and kicked three first half penalties, but Saracens kept themselves in contention through a McRae penalty and close-range try by flanker Kris Chesney. McRae's conversion of that score tied the game at 10-10 before Bowen ensured that Bristol enjoyed an interval lead.
However, within 75 seconds of the restart, Saracens went ahead for the first time, and didn't allow Bristol back after that. Saracens' skipper Kyran Bracken, managed to off-load his pass to McRae despite stumbling, and with the Bristol defence dozing, McRae hurtled through a colossal gap for a try that he also converted.
Sensing that the game had turned their way, Saracens sent on England forwards Danny Grewcock and David Flatman with some 30 minutes still remaining and Bristol kept conceding penalties which McRae duly punished. Three more goals during a nine-minute spell meant that Saracens led by 10 points entering the closing quarter, and Bristol were left with a mountain to climb. And their cause wasn't helped when skipper Agustin Pichot let himself down with a crass act of indiscipline, stamping on Hill and spending an inevitable 10 minutes sin-binned.
A further McRae penalty extended Saracens' advantage, and although Vander struck with time running out, the visitors still had the final word. Bracken, a livewire act throughout, managed to shrug off Vander's attempted
tackle, slipping an inside pass to Irish wing Darragh O'Mahony, who sprinted clear to wrap up an impressive triumph.
Unlike against Gloucester, there were no bonus points for Saracens this weekend, but following two wins from two starts they sent out warning signals to all their Premiership rivals.