The focus of the day was waving goodbye to the past while keeping half an eye on the future. On the surface, with nothing riding on the outcome of the game, the afternoon belonged to Saracens' retiring England flanker Richard Hill; the sub-plot, though, was two teams looking ahead.
Playing this game at MK Dons' spanking new football stadium, with Watford
using Vicarage Road for their play-off, was a qualified success with a crowd of more than 8,000. And while Saracens will not look for a permanent move so far up the M1 or so close to Northampton, the facilities are those craved by their chairman, Nigel Wray, as he aims to get more bums on seats.
Around £7m-£8m has been secured from a deal with South African investors
but Wray is adamant that in the long term increasing gates is the only way forward.
"We need gates of 15,000-17,000 every week and it is possible - we have done it three times this season - but you don't get that by having ups and downs in form either," he said. "We have played some fantastic rugby and are very unlucky not to be in the Heineken Cup final. But we have also played some of the worst rugby in the league so it has been hugely frustrating and we have got to get it right."
Their departing director rugby, Alan Gaffney, admitted that the standard was poor. Saracens let slip a 15–3 lead to trail 20-18 in the final 10 minutes and only Kameli Ratuvou rescued Hill's party by racing over with a minute and a half left.
This was Bristol's sixth defeat in a row. They may have finished only a place
behind Saracens in ninth but financially the clubs are miles apart; while Saracens can bring in Steve Borthwick and the former Wales captain Michael Owen next season, four of Bristol's six signings are from National League One.
Their director of rugby, Richard Hill, though, is clear about the future. "We may not have the big signings and you would admit to being slightly envious of some at times but this is still the squad that finished third last season and I still believe we can challenge."
Saracens Haughton (Ross, 50); Cato (Penney, 56), Sorrell, Powell, Ratuvou; Goode, De Kock (capt, Dickens, 60); Lloyd, Cairns, Visagie (Johnston, 48), Ryder, Chesney (Fullarton, 60), Gustard (Barrell, 69), Hill, Skirving.
Tries Haughton, Cato, Ratuvou. Cons Goode 2. Pens Goode 2.
Bristol Arscott; Elliott, Brew, Eves (Higgitt, 63), Lemi; Barnes, Thomas (Beveridge, 45); Hogan (Crompton, 26), Linklater, Bracken, Sambucetti (Hohneck, 66), Budgett, Grieve, Pennycook (To'oala, 66), Ward-Smith (capt).
Tries Eves 2. Cons Barnes 2. Pens Barnes 2.
Referee T Wigglesworth. Attendance 8,050.
