Saracens back to winning ways

Andy Farrell, dropped by England for the RBS 6 Nations, skippered Saracens for the first time as they secured an important 26-20 Guinness Premiership victory over Bath.

Farrell, leading the side in the absence of scrum half Neil de Kock, went off injured in the 43rd minute but Saracens shrugged off the loss as they returned to winning ways following successive league defeats by Bristol and Newcastle.

Two high-speed tries by South African full-back Brent Russell proved decisive as Sarries other 16 points came from the boot of fly-half Glen Jackson with a 100% haul of two conversions and four penalties from his six kicks at goal to take his tally for the season to 83 from nine matches.

Bath replied with tries from Olly Barkley, fly-half Butch James and replacement Jonny Faamatuainu, whose late touchdown in the right-hand corner secured the visitors a losing bonus point.

Barkley also landed a conversion and a penalty but he missed two more conversion attempts and a simple first-half penalty which could, ultimately, have proved crucial.

Defeat for Bath, who beat leaders Gloucester in their last Guinness outing, means they remain in third place after Leicester leapfrogged them to move into second with their victory over Newcastle on Saturday.