Strange result for Bristol
By Mike Wise
Last Updated: 01/01/70 1:00am
A late penalty miss meant Bristol had to settle for a 13-13 draw against Saracens.
Bristol have failed to take top spot in the Guinness Premiership after Jason Strange missed a conversion with the last kick of their match against Saracens at The Memorial Stadium.
Saracens had looked to have secured victory when longe-range injury time drop goals were scored by both Dan Scarbrough and Glen Jackson.
A try scored by Bristol's Shaun Perry then tied the game a full nine minutes into stoppage time.
But home fans' dreams of a last-gasp win were shattered when the touchline effort of Strange (pictured) drifted wide.
Scarborough had earlier touched down the visitors' only try, with Bristol equalising through Darren Crompton before the strength of their pack set up Perry's score.
But, in a match featuring little in the way of skill and ambition, it was arguably the home side's lack of composure that cost them victory.
Saracens took the lead after five minutes when captain Simon Raiwalui bypassed a packed midfield with a confident long pass.
Scarborough took the ball before angling back inside Bristol's defenders to touch down for a try converted by Jackson.
Strange reduced Bristol's deficit with a 12th minute penalty but the remainder of the opening period was largely mediocre.
Both sides struggled to avoid making basic errors, with Bristol lacking of composure and inspiration in the face of Saracens' heavy-hitting forward line.
Better was to come for Bristol five minutes into the second period when, following a drive, Crompton was awarded a try that edged his side into the lead.
But Bristol failed to fully exploit their pack power, with Saracens then wasting the chance to regain the lead 12 minutes from time when a Jackson penalty went wide.
After being on the back foot, Bristol belatedly surged forward as the lengthy spell of injury time got underway.
However Saracens' brace of drop goals edged them into the lead, before Perry's score set up Strange's failed bid to steal the points.
