Kameli Ratuvou was the scorer as Bristol seemed to switch off momentarily and lost a key scrum against the head. The Bristol pack and Graeme Beveridge looked outraged and with good reason.

Hasty analysis of the match DVD showed that replacement Saracens scrum half Alan Dicken had "done a Neil Back" and punched the ball out of Beveridge's hands as he fed the scrum. Hence the ball shot onto the Saracens side, seemingly unseen or ignored by the match officials, and the rest is history.

The Bristol camp were fuming after the final whistle feeling that they had been robbed of a deserved win following an awesome team effort.

Bristol threaten the Sarries' 22 in the first half

(c) Getty Images

Sadly, it undid a superb hour's work and left a sour taste in the mouth despite all the goodwill generated by the Richard Hill retirement celebrations as Bristol overcame a strong start by the home side and, inspired by two tries from Luke Eves, led 20-18 going into the final two minutes.

So, 2007-8 ended in defeat for Bristol but they could take great heart from the performance. Especially prominent were the likes of Eves, Grieve and Pennycook which augurs well for the future.

It was a warm and muggy afternoon at the unfamiliar surroundings of the stadium:mk and the home side had worked hard to create a carnival atmosphere to celebrate the final game of Saracens and England stalwart Richard Hill and the Bristol team line up to appluad him as he took the field.

It was also a Bristol side showing several changes from last week with Ray Hogan, Redford Pennycook and Haydn Thomas all making their first competitive starts and a sprinkling of youth across the matchday squad.

Haydn Thomas was a threat throughout

(c) Getty Images

Sarries got the game underway and quickly earned a penalty as Bristol failed to roll away from the tackle area. Alex Goode, the England U20 fly half, stepped up from just outside the 10m line and kicked his first Premiership points to make the score 3-0 after 2 minutes.

Bristol's lineout was under a little early pressure and a Sarries steal put Bristol in trouble in their own 22 but Goode knocked on and Redford Pennycook and Luke Eves both carried powerfully to get Bristol into the home half

Bristol then earned a penalty at a Saracens scrum giving Ed Barnes a shot at goal from distance but the fly half was just wide to the right with his kick.

Bristol were promptly made to pay as Saracens moved the ball left from a set scrum. Initial inroads were made in midfield creating space out wide and Richard Haughton was able to use the men outside him to show and go his way past Luke Arscott and score near the posts. Goode converted for 10-0 after 12 minutes.

Saracens claimed the restart and cleared. Bristol secured lineout ball and Luke Eves took the crash ball in midfield and the home team interfered with the ball on the deck. Barnes slotted the kick from distance to narrow the gap to 10-3.

Luke Eves bursts through in midfield

(c) Getty Images

However, Bristol made a hash of receiving the restart and knocked on. Neil de Kock broke from the scrum and almost made the line. Sarries came right and, despite, a great tackle from David Lemi had enough numbers on the right for Haughton to put Noah Cato into the corner. 15-3 after 17 minutes.

The first quarter came to an unusual end as Richard Haughton kicked the ball dead at the Bristol end from his own 22 and the referee called a time out for the teams to take a drinks break.

Bristol couldn't take advantage of the field position but stunned Saracens on 24 minutes as they took advantage of a turnover in midfield. Quick hands gave David Lemi some room and he went around Cato before passing inside to the supporting Luke Eves who crossed for a great try. Barnes added the conversion for 15-10 after 25 minutes.

Luke Eves gets the first score

(c) Martin Bennett

Sarries were rattled and Bristol playing some good stuff. More pressure gave Bristol a 5m lineout but tenacious defence kept them at bay and an accidental offside ended the danger.

More pressure then forced Goode to knock on in the shadow of his own posts and Barnes almost dummied his way over. Bristol tried to smash their way over but the home team still held out and Bristol conceded a penalty at the ensuing scrum to leave the 22 with nothing.

Bristol, however, were playing some really good rugby at this point and forwards and backs were combining to great effect to keep the ball alive and keep the home crowd quiet. Sarries eventually conceded a kickable penalty and Barnes made the score 15-13 on 39 minutes.

There was no further score before the interval and Bristol could reflect on the fact that they had bounced back really well after a shaky start and that their younger players in particular had very much looked up to the task in hand.

Bristol had introduced Darren Crompton for Ray Hogan due to injury in the first period but both teams emerged after half time with no further changes.

Bristol came out looking purposeful and Haydn Thomas enjoyed a scamper down the 5m channel after a Saracens knock on but was tracked down tackled into touch by Kameli Ratuvou.

However, Bristol weren't to be denied and Luke Eves took a great angle off a lovely flat pass from Ed Barnes. He burst through the line and then showed great strength to make the line and touch down despite two home tacklers. Barnes converted and Bristol led for the first time 15-20 after 52 minutes.

Celebrations after Eves' second try

(c) Martin Bennett

Saracens tried to respond and were helped as Bristol dropped the restart again. However, Bristol held out and the home team's frustration was compounded as Neil de Kock knocked on whilst taking a quick tap penalty on the hour.

After another drinks break, Bristol almost broke through again as Neil Brew was an ankle tap away from bursting through and Luke Arscott put Anthony Elliott through a gap only for his offload to find Saracens' hands.

The home team team were still a threat, however, and, when Dan Ward-Smith couldn't claim a high ball cleanly, Ratuvou tested the defence and the winger almost touched down his own kick through with 16 minutes to play but the ball just ran dead.

The home team were trying desperately to finish on a high and got their reward on 69 minutes when Alex Goode landed a penalty as Bristol were caught offside to make the score 18-20.

Graeme Beveridge gets the ball away

(c) Getty Images

Barnes missed a chance to put Saracens under real pressure but his kick to the corner went dead and the home team moved downfield menacingly.

The game went into the final couple of minutes and Bristol had a scrum on their own 22. However, they "lost" it against the head. Goode took the ball on in midfield and found Ratuvou who had just enough strength and room to touch down despite Anthony Elliott's tackle. Goode converted to rub salt into the wound as time expired.

Bristol really did deserve better. They had bounced back in superb style and honestly didn't deserve to lose.

However, credit to the home team who kept going until the very end and did everything in their power to take the win.