Bath v Saracens result: Ollie Lawrence's dramatic score shows Bath may finally have turned corner

After the Coronation, this was not the procession that was expected at the Recreation Ground. And yet, ultimately, Ollie Lawrence's try deep into added time proved enough for Bath to squeeze into the Heineken Champions Cup next season at the expense of fierce rivals Bristol.

Those who feared a mismatch here would not have expected such a dramatic finish.

With a much-changed Saracens punching well above their weight, Mark McCall’s side had already secured a four-try bonus point before the interval and led 24-21 at the break, threatening to pull off a victory against all the odds.

If there was a sense of inevitability about Bath’s dominance in the second half as Saracens ran out of steam and were without a bench with a strong enough impact, it did nothing to undermine the entertainment of the contest.

As it was the race for eighth place, if that is what is to be called, went right to the wire, added to the sense of drama and at the death celebration for Bath.

With Bristol leading Gloucester by 22 points, it took an opportunistic score from Lawrence, who raced through after Bath hooker Niall Annett regathered a chip from Saracens fly-half Manu Vunipola deep in his own half. The Ulsterman’s offload found Lawrence who raced over for the decisive try that put Bath in front of Bristol on points difference, with Gloucester’s last-gasp penalty try confirming the final standings.

These are still early days of Johan van Graan’s tenure, and yet, on the day the club also bid an emotional farewell to former head coach Stuart Hooper, there is a sense that the club may have just turned the corner. This was Bath’s fourth successive victory in the Premiership, following wins against Northampton Saints, Exeter Chiefs and Gloucester.

The struggle to put away a second-string Saracens side suggests there is still much work for the South African, and it felt like an underwhelming manner to qualify for the Champions Cup. But it ensured that the Bath faithful can at least head into the summer months with a sliver of hope for next season.

What is clear is that the influence of their acquisitions following the demise of Worcester Warriors has been transformational. Ted Hill put in the kind of shift in front of England head coach Steve Borthwick to suggest he will come into the reckoning for a place in the World Cup squad bound for France.