Taichi Takahashi scored four tries to cancel out Harry Thacker’s hat-trick and fire the Barbarians to an entertaining victory over Bristol Bears at Ashton Gate.
The Japanese flyer went over for a first-half hat-trick as the BaaBaas took a 19-35 lead into the break, with two tries from Thacker and another from Harry Randall keeping the Bears in touch. Wallabies number eight Harry Wilson also scored twice in an action-packed opening 40 in sweltering conditions in BS3.
Thacker completed his hat-trick early in the second-half before Lachlan Lonergan and Tom Wright extended the tourists’ advantage late on.
Takahashi bagged his fourth with the final kick of the game to complete an emphatic win for the Barbarians.
