by Bristol Bears 57 Bath Rugby 44
In these parts there’s nothing better than a pint of cider to celebrate – and how Bristol Bears will score this special win against their nearest and dearest.
On a day where defense was selective for much of the afternoon, it was the Bears who took the spoils in a contest that yielded 14 total tries.
This game looked like a hit at times, producing more than 100 points in a Premier League clash for the first time in 22 years. The hosts were involved the last time it went to three figures – 53-47 against Sale – but this was a different kind of entertainment.
Pre-match there was talk of how the sport was entering a new age of entertainment with Bristol boss Steven Luatua donning the “boy player”. That innovation may take a while to realize its true merit, rather than the latest TV gimmick that appeared in the first place, but the action on the spot took center stage here.
Bristol coach Lam rightly praised his team at the final whistle, insisting it was a “huge win” in the context of their season – and one that has inspired club owner Steve Lansdown.
“A few weeks ago I met Steve and he said, ‘Pat, when you first came you got me excited about the game and the way we played’ and he encouraged me to tell the boys to go out and play the game. Way bears. We talked about that as a team and really focused on playing what’s in front of us.
“We knew we’d make some mistakes, but we kept coming and what happened out there, don’t get me wrong, I’d love to go 50-0, but that’s part of the way it’s going to go and we knew it would Bath come back to us, which they did.”
High-flying Bath started brightly, taking the lead inside two minutes when Finn Russell’s cross found Joe Cokanasiga to score in the corner. What followed, however, was a whirlwind response from the Bears, who had the bonus point try wrapped up inside the opening quarter.
Will Capon leveled things with a close-range clearance, before fellow forward Joe Batley was able to finish off a scintillating move between Richard Lane and Harry Randall.
Bristol made the most of yellow cards for Bath duo Jaco Coetzee and Louis Schreuder to add further scores for AJ MacGinty and Noah Heward.
Bath, without many important names due to international call-ups and injuries, seem to have been at sea. The Bears ran riot at Ashton Gate, making the most of some poor defending from the visitors, who needed a quick response.
Hooker Tom Dunn was driven over from close range to stop the home charge, only for substitute James Williams to pick a gap wider than the lanes on the nearby Clifton Suspension Bridge to restore Bristol’s grip on proceedings.
The second half started in much the same way as the first, Bath hit within two minutes as Tom de Glanville finished off strong work from winger Cokanasiga.
Again though, Bristol’s riposte was swift, Fitz Harding forcing his way over for a converted score, before plenty of try trading followed with Coetzee crossing for Bath only for Magnus Bradbury to do the same at the other end.
Bath’s grip on the game was increasing and with the Bears now falling foul of the officials, Luatua and Heward would see both yellows in quick succession, it was the visitors who were doing well as Thomas du Toit first, then a penalty attempt set up a big stand. final.
As the decibel levels rose, so did the Bears as they drew a crucial penalty through MacGinty to keep Bath at bay. The visitors would not go quietly though as Russell pulled them back to within six points with a penalty of his own with just a handful of minutes remaining.
With the clock ticking down to the final minute, it was now or never for Bath as they sought a first win at Ashton Gate since 2008. They went left, then right, before the ball was handed back to Russell. The Scottish international, so often the Harry Potter of wizardry on the pitch, looked to cross the pitch again, but this time Lane took his kick out of the night sky, not needing a second invitation to the race out and seal the win.
Data matching
Scoring Sequence: Cokanasiga Try 0-5, Capon Try 5-5, Batley Try 10-5, McGinty Con 12-5, Russell Pen 12-8, McGinty Try 17-8, McGinty Con 19-8, Heward Try 24-8, McGinty Con 26-8, Dunn Try 26-13, Russell Con 26-15, Williams Try 31-15, McGinty Con 33-15, De Glanville Try 33-20, Harding 38-20, McGinty 40 -20, Coetzee Try 40-25 , Russell Con 40-27, Bradbury Try 45-27, McGinty 47-27, du Toit Try 47-32, Russell Con 47-34, Penalty Try 47-41, McGinty Pen 50 -41, Russell Pen 50-44, Lane Try 55-44, van Rensburg Con 57-44
Bristol: R Lane; N Heward, B Janse van Rensburg, J Williams (V Vakatawa 67), G Ibitoye; AJ MacGinty (S Naulago 78), H Randall (K Marmion 78); J Woolmore (M Lahiff 40), W Capon (F Davies 28), K Sinckler (S Grahamslaw 62); J Dun (J Heenan 78), J Batley; S Luatua, F Harding (c), M Bradbury (J Caulfield 59).
Yellow Cards: Luatua, Heward
Bath: T de Glanville; J Cokanasiga, C Redpath, W Butt, M Gallagher; F Russell, L Schreuder (T Carr-Smith 65); J Schoeman (A Griffin 46), T Dunn (N Annett 53), T du Toit; E Stooke, Q Roux (J Bayliss 52); GJ van Velze (c, C Cloete 53), M Reid (McInally 67), J Coetzee. Replacements: A Cordwell, O Bailey.
Yellow Cards: Coetzee, Sgreuder
Referee: I am tempest
Attendance: 26,387
