Mark McCall: Delighted with win

McCall is more than satisfied with Saravens record of eight victories from 11 matches so far this season, and particularly enjoyed Saturday's crushing of Bath at a rain-soaked Recreation Ground.

McCall said: "We were clinical in all parts of our game. To get a 16-0 lead at half-time was probably well deserved."

McCall's team had started the day in second spot but he said: "I think it's kind of irrelevant who's top of the table at the halfway point. We've played seven away games so we've got four proper away games to go and hopefully we'll have six games at our new home.

"To be where we are after 11 games - seven of which have been away from home and two of them in other places - is a pretty good effort."

Saracens' nomadic existence ends when they play their first Premiership game at their new home of Allianz Park, Barnet Copthall, on February 16 against Exeter.

McCall had no doubt who was his side's match-winner after fly-half Charlie Hodgson excelled with his kicking from the tee and out of hand in a 17-point display. Hodgson also set up the crucial try for Richard Wigglesworth.

"He was outstanding," said McCall. "He knew when to pass, he knew when to kick and when to keep the ball in front of his forwards. It was a masterclass. He made the crucial break for Wigglesworth's try.

"He (Wigglesworth) was also an outstanding player for us today. But I thought they got a great platform from our forwards. Defensively we were good. Our discipline was good. It was very clinical."

Bath's defensive coach Mike Ford accepted his side's shortcomings on the day, saying: "Obviously, we knew what Saracens would do. It's not rocket science the way they play and conditions probably suited them a bit more than us.

"Fair play to them, they gave us a lesson today. I think the killer blow was the try. Once you go 10 points down, especially in conditions like that against a team of Saracens' ilk, then it's very, very difficult to pull it back.

"Their defence is outstanding isn't it? Any time they were in our half, second half, they kicked three points. It's a good lesson for us about how to play the conditions, really."

He added: "I'm really disappointed with the try we let in. It was soft, just soft. We took the dummy off Charlie and he went through. That ultimately took the game away from us. He played brilliantly, Charlie. He was the difference really.

"Our kicking game was poor though. When you don't kick well, it's difficult to get any sort of platform to control the game."

On Bath's position at the halfway stage, with a difficult trip to Exeter to come next Saturday, Ford said: "We always said this game would show us where we are. We've got to learn from this and get better."