Danielli double as Bath show hidden depths

A win, any kind of scrappy win, would satisfy Bath at the moment; their perilous league position demands nothing less. But yesterday they completely dominated a lacklustre Saracens to such an extent that they registered their first bonus point for four tries this season – four tries scored by the wingers, no less – and moved up into ninth place in the Zurich Premiership.

Simon Danielli, his replacement Elvis Seveali'i and Kevin Maggs touched down, but this was a team victory earned with stubborn and cussed defence, particularly by the forwards. Danielli scored the first two in the 29th and 41st minutes in a style that suggested that full Scotland honours may be earned in the summer, if not earlier.

The first was all his own work as he collected a loose pass in broken play just outside the Saracens 22 before stepping inside the usually impassable Tim Horan and then accelerating past both Morgan Williams and the covering full-back, Brett Sparg. His second, and the one that gave Bath a measure of comfort with a 12-point lead, was forged by the thieving nous of Andy Beattie. He and his partner in larceny, Adam Vander, were exceptional throughout and Beattie's steal was spun out to the right begging for a runner with a direct line. Danielli duly obliged, but as vital as this score was, the forwards' defence a minute before the break was equally important.

Searching for a score, Saracens were relentless in attack, but failed to breach an obstinate wall of blue. That final yard remained unbeaten as Williams lingered and Vander pounced to secure man and ball – a man-of-the-match moment by a player on top of his game. How else could he explain a desperate clutching tackle that snared Horan in the second half?

And that spirit epitomised Bath's performance and earned them their victory lap after the match. The crowd enjoyed the quick tap penalty in the 69th minute that Chris Malone fed out to Maggs, who interchanged passes with Matt Perry before scoring, and they cheered Seveali'i's first touch as he gathered his own kick and, two minutes later, he sprinted 60 metresto earn the bonus point. But most of all they cheered the hope that this proud rugby town has a team with spirit and hunger for the battle.

Danny Grewcock's standards have not slipped despite his team's travails, and so it was again, his leadership demonstrated in the second minute as he stole the very first line-out on Saracens' five-metre line. It was a dominance won early up front that his team-mates refused to relinquish.

Bath: M Perry; S Danielli (E Seveali'i, 71), A Crockett, M Tindall, K Maggs (O Barkley, 79); C Malone, A Williams (R Blake, 85); D Barnes, J Humphreys (L Mears, 66), J Mallett (A Galasso, 79), S Borthwick, D Grewcock, A Beattie, A Vander (A Lloyd, 76), N Thomas (J Scaysbrook, 76).

Saracens: B Sparg; R Haughton (N McAvoy, 67), T Castaignède, T Horan, D O'Mahony; A Goode, M Williams (K Bracken, 54), C Califano, R Russell (M Cairns, 70), M Storey, A Benazzi, C Yandell, R Peacey (T Roques, 70), R Hill, K Chesney.

Referee: A Rowden (Berkshire).