Bath surpass 60 points in thrashing of Saracens
Bath showcased a scintillating attacking display to score nine tries and surpass 60 points as they blew away Saracens on their return to Prem action. Tobias Elliott scored twice for Saracens - the first inside two minutes - but tries from Will Muir, Josh Bayliss, Alfie Barbeary and Henry Arundell secured a try-scoring bonus point for the hosts before the interval. Ben Spencer then ran clear on the counter, replacement prop Kepu Tuipulotu added their sixth and a second from Arundell meant Bath cantered comfortably clear as Saracens were held to zero points throughout the second half.
A moment of Finn Russell magic in the closing minutes helped set up Guy Pepper's try, before Bernard van der Linde capped a night that belonged to Bath, who moved top of the table as they laid down a marker after the league's eight-week break. The smoke was still swirling from the pre-match fireworks when Theo McFarland charged down Spencer's kick and Elliot Daly's delayed pass allowed Lucio Cinti to dart through and Elliott to score in a fast start for Saracens. Owen Farrell's penalty made it 10-0 in a good opening spell for the visitors but as the penalty count repeatedly allowed Bath into their opposition's 22, they grew into the half.
Quick passing through the hands following a scrum put Muir over in the corner, before a superb Russell 50:22 swung momentum further and Bayliss side-stepped out of a tackle and weaved his way to the line to push Bath 14-10 ahead. Bath piled on more pressure and Barbeary punched through at pace to score their third, two weeks after his move to Sarries for 2026-27 was confirmed. Saracens had a reply as Theo Dan broke the line to gain crucial territory and, when the ball was recycled wide, Elliott was on the overlap to score his second in the same corner, making it 21-15.
But quickly Bath came back and while Saracens' defence held firm to twice keep them from crossing, there was no stopping England winger Arundell when he pounced on a Farrell pass at the other end and with his first carry sprinted the length of the pitch to dot down under the posts. Henry Arundell scored twice after returning from England duty for the Six Nations The previous time Saracens visited the Rec in December 2024, they were humbled 68-10 after going down to 14 men early on. While Bath did not quite hit the same heights, the script followed much the same.
Spencer, one of eight internationals in Bath's side straight from the Six Nations, reacted fastest to scoop up a loose ball and cruise into the corner and Tuipulotu - one of seven imperious replacements sent on at once - took the score to 41-15. Saracens' effort was compounded when Dan was sent to the sin bin with 18 minutes still on the clock, but they also saw two tries of their own go begging as Max Malins spilled the ball and they were held up on the second attempt. Arundell had his second when another rapid counter-move saw Bath racing in a five-on-one to cross the 50-point mark, but it was Russell's dummy pass to open up space for Pepper to score which brought the home crowd to their feet.