Farrell would have been bitterly disappointed at missing out on England’s Six Nations campaign, and there were times during that failed bid they could have done with his cool and calm, controlling head. 

A 40,000 crowd watched an entertaining and exciting first half which saw the teams locked 20-20 at the break. Bristol started the faster with centre Antoine Frisch who reached out a long arm to ground the ball for the opening try. Tiff Eden added the extras but former Bristol boys Ben Earl and Max Malins combined to helped Saracens into the contest. 

Bristol hit back from a poor Jamie George line-out throw which ended with  O’Conor crossing in the left corner. Two Farrell penalties edged the hosts ahead for the first time in the game on the half hour but Eden replied with his own penalty and Frisch was tackled short of the line but still managed to off-load in time for Eden to pick up the pieces and ground the ball.

There was still time before the break for Elliot Daly to fly across the Bristol line for his first Premiership try of the season, taking Alex Lozowski’s pass in his stride and stepping inside the final tackler to cross. Farrell’s conversion sent the sides in level. 

Malins cut through the last line of the Bristol defence for his second try within five minutes of the restart. Earl’s turnover put the home side on the attack and Malins broke through Frisch’s tackle to cross with Farrell converting.  

Farrell enjoyed his fortunate escape for his hit on O’Conor while Callum Sheedy kicked the resulting penalty to close the gap to four points. 

O’Conor had been half stopped by Billy Vunipola before Farrell finished his attempted break by blocking his route illegally. Farrell left the field 11 minutes before the end to be assessed after receiving a blow to the head and then came a dramatic which left Bristol celebrating one moment and in despair the next as a stunning flowing break from inside their own half led to Joyce’s pass putting Jack Bates over the line. 

But the lock had allowed his pass to slip forward and it was ruled out by referee Ridley after watching replays. Heart-break for the visitors and a lucky escape and the points for the hosts. 

Bristol director of rugby Pat Lam said: “Joe Joyce is devastated and it was such a huge shame because for a lock to be charging up the field like that near the end of a game was incredible. 

“It was a real extreme of emotions. One minute we were very happy the next not so. But we have to take it on the chin and move on. I was still delighted with the performance from the boys who deserved more from the game.”

Match details

Scores (Saracens first): 0-5 (Frisch try), 0-7 (Eden con), 5-7 (Malins try), 7-7 (Farrell con), 7-12 (O’Conor try), 10-12 (Farrell pen), 13-12 (Farrell pen), 13-15 (Eden pen), 13-20 (Eden try); 18-20 (Daly try), 20-20 (Farrell con); half-time; 25-20 (Malins try), 27-20 (Farrell con), 27-23 (Sheedy con).

Saracens: A Goode; M Malins, A Lozowsk (D Taylor 65), N Tompkins, E Daly;  O Farrell (c) (S Maitland 69), A Davies; R Barrington (E Mawi 63), J George (T Woolstencroft 59, 6), V Koch; M Itoje, N Isiekwe (T Swinson 70); J Wray (A Christie 55) B Earl, B Vunipola. Replacements not used: S Wainwright, R de Haas

Bristol: R Lane (C Piutau 47); A Leiua, P O’Conor, A Frisch (S Radradra 47), J Bates; T Eden (C Sheedy 54, 6), H Randall; J Woolmore (Y Thomas 66), H Thacker (J Kerr 80), J Armstrong (J Afoa 36); D Attwood, J Joyce (c); C Vui , D Thomas (S Jeffries 56), F Harding. Replacement not used: M Green.

Referee: Christophe Ridley