Saracens score last-minute try to beat Bristol

Theo Dan scored Saracens' first try to kick-start their comeback against Bristol

Francois Hougaard scored a last-minute try as Saracens came from behind to beat Bristol 20-19.

James Williams and Alex Goode traded penalties before a Theo Dan try reduced the gap to four points.

Gabriel Ibitoye's try 10 minutes from time put Bristol nine points clear, but Rotimi Segun retaliated and Hougaard crossed at the death to snatch the win.

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Saracens extended their unbeaten run at the StoneX Stadium to 14 matches and stretched their lead at the top of the table to eight points, while Bristol remain bottom but took away a losing bonus point to close the gap to two points on Bath above them.

But Sarries were far from their best and missing a host of international players - including seven England internationals - they took 51 minutes to put any points on the board.

MacGinty's early penalty gave the Bears the lead but the visitors' struggles in attack this season - they have the worst points difference of any team in the league - were all too apparent. They dominated possession and territory for most of the first half but were held to three points for most of it.

Semi Radradra burst down the blindside and finally crossed the try-line only to have it chalked off for a knock-on and Rich Lane was denied by a Duncan Taylor tackle a few metres out.

Ibitoye came up short as he tried to dive over after a close-range line-out before hooker Thacker finally scored seconds later, powering over in a maul at the end of the first half.

MacGinty missed the conversion and a subsequent penalty, but centre James Williams - making his first Premiership start for Bristol - stepped up to convert a long-range penalty and stretch their lead to 11 points.

Goode finally put Saracens on the board with his own seconds later, but Williams landed another as the penalty count racked up against the hosts.

Dan scored from a maul to spark Sarries but Ibitoye seemed to wrap up victory for Bristol with his own try in the corner as their forwards pulled in Saracens' defence.

The leaders proved why they have been so dominant this season though as Segun powered over to set up a tense finale.

With Bristol's defence rattled and the hosts upping the pressure, Hougaard broke Bristol hearts with the last play of the game as Sarries moved the ball wide from a line-out to score in the corner.

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Saracens: Goode, Segun, Lozowski, Taylor, Lewington, M. Vunipola, Davies; Hislop, Dan, Judge, Kitchener, Tizard, Christie, Wray (c), B. Vunipola.

Replacements: Pifeleti, Mawi, Clarey, Boo, Ellis, Van Zyl, Tompkins, Hougaard.

Bristol Bears: Lane, Naulago, Radradra, Williams, Ibitoye, MacGinty, Randall; Thomas, Thacker, Lahiff, Batley, Vui, Luatua (c), Heenan, Bradbury.

Replacements: Byrne, Woolmore, Benz-Salomon, Holmes, Harding, Uren, Sheedy, Bates.

Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe.