Cheltenham Saracens 22 Barts Rugby 6

Fourth hosted third in Gloucester Premier with Cheltenham Saracens welcoming Barts.

Barts' start to the match did not go as planned after they kicked off directly into touch and were then penalised at the scrum on halfway.

From this, Saracens were allowed to control the opening stages of the tie, with all of the action being focused in the visitors' half of the pitch, but they were unable to clear the ball any further than the halfway line.

Eventually, the pressure paid off for Saracens, and after returning a clearing kick, they won a penalty at the ruck and kicked for touch.

The lineout saw the maul set a good platform, allowing Adam Geering to receive a pass from the back of the pack and spin out of a tackle to crash over halfway between the posts and corner flag.

Stand-in kicker, scrum-half Jack Medcroft, was unable to convert and Sarries took a five-point lead.

Barts responded physically and dug out short gains through their forwards before managed to claw a score back, slotting a penalty in front of the posts to close the gap to 5-3.

After tough phases from Barts, Sarries extended their lead after full-back Will Hewer returned a long kick with a winding run, before offloading to centre Luke Morgan, who in turn set up Hewer for another run.

After Barts finally stopped Hewer, the quick ball from the ruck was enough to put the backs through with young winger Connor Anderson capping off the move - gliding over almost unopposed.

Medcroft was again unable to convert but Sarries lead 10-3.

The game ebbed and flowed for the rest of the half, with both sides exchanging possession and kicks.

Barts were awarded a penalty for offside, but elected to kick to touch, ending the first half with the score 10-3 to Sarries.

Saracens piled on the pressure in the early stages of the second period, and after securing a penalty, Medcroft kicked to touch and put the forwards to work.

The resulting maul set the platform again and the attack was ended by Morgan, who stormed over in the corner for another unconverted try with Saracens now holding a 15-3 lead.

Barts returned, determined to not let the gap extend and the hard, demanding phases through their forwards won a penalty.

This was dispatched, and Barts doubled their score to 15-6.

Barts knocked on from the restart - giving Sarries a scrum, which allowed the backs to run an organised move.

Full-back Hewer, already having set up a try, put his own name down amongst the scorers, after selling a dummy and shrugging off a tackle to go over, but made sure to tap down right under the posts to make it an easy kick for Medcroft, who did not miss.

Sarries now stood 22-6 clear of their third-placed opponent.

Sarries could have bagged another score in the dying moments, after two Barts' players headed to the sin bin.

However, despite camping on Barts' five-metre line, the hosts could not find a way through.

Read more at http://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/saracens-within-five-points-of-summit-following-victory/story-29794199-detail/story.html#RfKWpJJrJKdwb1cc.99