Saracens, whose team included nine South Africans, struck back with tries from Ernst Joubert and Brad Barritt.
Flanker Andy Saull then exploited a gap in the Bristol defence to race clear before off-loading to Barritt who strolled over.
Sarries started with seven South Africans in their side plus England international Michael Horak and Barritt, who were both born in the country.
Italian Prop Matias Aguero and centre Brad Barritt went over in the first quarter for Saracens but Scott Linklater's try kept Bristol close.
Brad Barritt finished off a wonderful move to move Sarries ahead early on before Sharples finished off another fine break to respond for the hosts.
Brad Barritt and Tait failed to halt McAlister's initial midfield burst, and Gear's feint and step inside Delon Armitage was enough to propel him over for his second try.
Saracens head coach Mark McCall said Henson would almost certainly be involved against Sale next weekend - but he stressed that Brad Barritt remains the club's first choice inside centre.
BBC: Gavin Henson targets England game after domestic return
Although that thrust came to nothing, it carried Saracens back into the South African 22 and, after a powerful scrum, Barritt charged through three tacklers to score their second try.
Brad Barritt got his legs pumping on a huge surge into the Leinster 22, Carlos Nieto rumbled forward on the recycle and a subsequent knock on let Leinster off the hook.
Barritt's try will surely be a contender for score of the season after a flowing move from inside the Saracens half but Sharples quickly hit back after Tim Molenaar blasted through the visiting defence.
Charlie Hodgson "controlled the game" and "showed a lot of maturity, " noted Johnson, who also singled out Dan Ward-Smith, Phil Dowson, Chris Robshaw, Dave Attwood, Geoff Parling, Brad Barritt and David Strettle as others who have pressed their claims.
"A crash investigation will be carried out but we have found some debris at the side of the lake and the plane is completely submerged so it appears that the aircraft clipped the trees before ditching into the lake, " said Mr Barritt.
BBC: Two bodies found in crashed plane pulled from Essex lake
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