Saracens' Dan Scarbrough scored the first try of the match

Bristol 13 (3)
Tries: Crompton, Perry
Pens: Strange

Saracens 13 (7)
Tries: Scarbrough
Con: Strange
Drop goals: Scarbrough, Jackson

Jason Strange missed a last-gasp conversion that would have given Bristol victory after Shaun Perry's late try levelled the scores.

Saracens led 7-3 at half-time through Dan Scarbrough's converted try, with Bristol replying via a Strange penalty.

Darren Crompton crossed for an unconverted try to put Bristol into the lead early in the second half.

Scarbrough and Jackson then landed long-range drop goals to put Sarries back in front before Perry's late try.

A Bristol triumph would have taken them above West country neighbours Gloucester at the top of the Premiership.

They went into the game buoyant after last week's big win at Worcester, but were unable to find the same form in a game which was low on skill and ambition.

The game started brightly, with Scarbrough latching onto captain Simon Raiwalui's long pass before slicing through for a fine try.

Jackson converted but Bristol trimmed the gap through Strange's 12th minute penalty.

The rest of the half was littered with errors and the next score did not come until five minutes into the second half when the Bristol pack launched a powerful drive and Crompton touched down to edge the hosts back in front.

However, they could not close the game out and drop goals from Scarbrough and Jackson put Saracens in sight of victory before Perry's late intervention.

That gave Strange the chance to win the game, but his kick was unsuccessful.

"Neither team will be happy with that.

"We weren't good and Saracens weren't on form either, so a draw was probably a fair result between two teams who didn't play well.

"It was not a good advert for professional rugby in 2006."

"I am extremely disappointed we did not win.

"We weren't accurate in the first half and did not achieve anything like the game-plan we had set out.

"We have got to take a long, hard look at ourselves and work out why we are as indisciplined as we are. We are not as smart or as cute as we should be."

Bristol: Taumalolo; Robinson, Higgitt, Cox, C Morgan; Strange, Perry; Hilton, Regan, Crompton; Winters, Llewellyn; Salter, El Abd, Ward-Smith.
Replacements: Clarke, Blaney, To'oala, Lewis, O'Riordan, Gray, Pozzebon.

Saracens: Scarbrough; De Vedia, Sorrell, Johnston, Haughton; Jackson, Dickens; Yates, Byrne, Visagie; Ryder, Raiwalui; Gustard, Seymour, Vyvyan.
Replacements: Cairns, Broster, Chesney, Russell, Rauluni, Laidlaw, Penney.