Tries from Gabriel Ibitoye, Kalaveti Ravouvou and Harry Randall, plus four points from AJ MacGinty, were not enough for the Bears as they fell to back-to-back league defeats.

Adam Radwan opened the scoring for Tigers inside five minutes following a quick break from Jack van Poortvliet, but it did not take long for Bears to respond.

Slick hands from the hosts provided space to Ravouvou, who delivered an outrageous offload, as he was falling, out the back of his hand to put Ibitoye over on his return.

Bears were their own worst enemy for the rest of the first half, conceding a second try to Tigers on 18 minutes when Ollie Hassell-Collins intercepted to go in under the posts.

Van Poortvliet added a third for the visitors on 25 minutes, with Handre Pollard converting before knocking over a simple penalty to make it 22-5 as half-time approached.

Tigers were lucky to escape with just a yellow card before the break as Joe Heyes was sent to the sin-bin for a high tackle on Fitz Harding, forcing the Bears skipper off the field for a blood injury as the visitors went into the interval with 17-point lead.

The home side needed to strike first after the restart and they did just that as Ravouvou provided another moment of magic to finish a scintillating move down the left wing.

With more than 16,000 fans inside Ashton Gate cheering the Bears on, the comeback looked on until the momentum was halted on 63 minutes by a Freddie Steward try.

Pat Lam’s men continued to battle and managed to hit back again on 66 minutes as Randall raced through to score following a break from Benhard Janse van Rensburg and MacGinty, with the latter stepping up to slot the extras to make it 29-19 to Tigers.

Bears were given further hope when Solomone Kata was sin-binned for a high tackle, but the home side were unable to find another score as the time ticked away.

Tigers finished the scoring in the final minute as Cameron Henderson crossed the whitewash, with Jamie Shillcock converting, to hand Bears a 36-19 defeat.

Bristol Bears: 15. Rich Lane, 14. Deago Bailey, 13. Kalaveti Ravouvou, 12. Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 11. Gabriel Ibitoye, 10. AJ MacGinty, 9. Harry Randall; 1. Ellis Genge, 2. Gabriel Oghre, 3. George Kloska, 4. James Dun, 5. Josh Caulfield, 6. Steven Luatua, 7. Fitz Harding (c), 8. Viliame Mata.

Replacements: 16. Harry Thacker, 17. Yann Thomas, 18. Max Lahiff, 19. Benjamin Grondonda, 20. Jake Heenan, 21. Kieran Marmion, 22. Benjamin Elizalde, 23. Joe Jenkins.

Leicester Tigers: 15. Freddie Steward, 14. Adam Radwan, 13. Solomone Kata, 12. Joseph Woodward, 11. Ollie Hassell-Collins, 10. Handré Pollard. 9. Jack van Poortvliet; 1. Nicky Smith, 2. Julián Montoya (c), 3. Joe Heyes, 4. Cameron Henderson, 5. Ollie Chessum, 6. Hanro Liebenberg, 7. Tommy Reffell, 8. Olly Cracknell

Replacements: 16. Charlie Clare, 17. James Whitcombe, 18. Will Hurd, 19. Matt Rogerson, 20. Emeka Ilione, 21. Ben Youngs, 22. Jamie Shillcock, 23. Dan Kelly

The post Report: Bristol Bears 19-36 Leicester Tigers appeared first on Bristol Bears Rugby.

Pat Lam’s side scored four tries to earn a consolation bonus-point, with a James Williams double and further scores from skipper Fitz Harding and Max Lahiff, but the Bears were unable to recover from a flying Gloucester start that saw them open up a 24-0 lead inside 22 minutes.

Christian Wade opened the scoring with the first of his hat-trick on five minutes before Josh Hathaway doubled the advantage just three minutes later. Chris Harris scored the hosts’ third before Seb Atkinson crossed for the first his three at the end of the first quarter.

The Bears hit back when Fitz Harding finished off a Harry Randall break, and James Williams powered over from close range after strong work from Rich Lane in the build-up.

Max Lahiff scored from close range but in the closing stages of an action-packed first half, both Atkinson and Wade grabbed their second scores to give the home side a 34-21 lead at the interval.

Atkinson completed his hat-trick early in the second half before Wade followed suit seven three minutes later, and when George Barton went over on 53 minutes, the Cherry and Whites had opened an unassailable lead.

Williams’ second ensured the Bears wouldn’t leave empty handed, but it was Gloucester who took the derby spoils at Kingsholm.

Gloucester: Tries: Wade 5, 40, 47, Hathaway 8, Harris 15, S Atkinson 22, 32, 44, Barton 53. Cons: C Atkinson 17, 22, Williams 44, 47

Bristol Bears: Tries: Harding 20, Williams 28, 63, Lahiff 32. Cons: Byrne 20, 28, 32, MacGinty 63

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A remarkable Derby Weekend showdown saw 10 tries in the first half to set a new league record, with Bears going into the interval with a 40-24 lead at Ashton Gate.

Bates opened the scored after just two minutes while James Williams also crossed as Chiefs responded through Martin Moloney and Henry Slade inside 10 minutes.

The hosts regained the lead through Benhard Janse van Rensburg from the restart before Williams raced in for the bonus-point try to make it 26-12 to the Bears.

Chiefs hit back once again as Dafydd Jenkins powered over the whitewash, only for Williams to put Bates through from 60 metres out for a fifth try inside the half hour.

Bears faced a double setback on 30 minutes when Josh Hodge touched down his own kick through and Santiago Grondona saw red for a high tackle in the build-up.

The home side shrugged off that disappointment to score again on the stroke of half time as Harry Randall darted over on his return from international duty with England.

Pat Lam’s side continued where they left off after the break as Steven Luatua went over from close range as Bears pulled further ahead to establish a 47-24 lead, with Bates grabbing his hat-trick before the hour mark to take the hosts past 50 points.

Jack Yeandle and Will Rigg added further scored for Chiefs, while Siva Naulago was sin-binned with two minutes left, but nothing could put a dampener on a sensational display from the Bears as they completed a memorable 52-38 triumph in BS3.

Bristol Bears: 15. Rich Lane, 14. Jack Bates, 13. Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 12. James Williams, 11. Kalaveti Ravouvou, 10. Harry Byrne, 9. Harry Randall; 1. Jake Woolmore, 2. Gabriel Oghre, 3. George Kloska, 4. James Dun, 5. Joe Owen, 6. Santiago Grondona, 7. Fitz Harding (c), 8. Viliame Mata.

Replacements: 16. Harry Thacker, 17. Yann Thomas, 18. Max Lahiff, 19. Josh Caulfield, 20. Steven Luatua, 21. Kieran Marmion, 22. Benjamin Elizalde, 23. Siva Naulago.

Exeter Chiefs: 15. Dan John, 14. Paul Brown-Bampoe, 13. Henry Slade, 12. Will Rigg, 11. Josh Hodge, 10. Ben Coen, 9. Tom Cairns; 1. Will Goodrick-Clarke, 2. Max Norey, 3. Jimmy Roots, 4. Dafydd Jenkins (c), 5. Christ Tshiunza, 6. Martin Moloney, 7. Richard Capstick, 8. Greg Fisilau

Replacements: 16. Jack Yeandle, 17. Scott Sio, 18. Josh Iosefa-Scott, 19. Lewis Pearson, 20. Kane James, 21. Niall Armstrong, 22. Harvey Skinner, 23. Ben Hammersley

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Lark Atkin-Davies crossed twice, while further Bears scores came in the shape of Ilona Maher and Millie David, who crossed for an incredible try.

Bristol surged into a 10-0 lead thanks to an Atkin-Davies double, with the first coming 15 minutes into the contest as the England hooker powered her way to the line from the back of a driving maul. Her second was a carbon-copy of the opening try as the travelling Bears fans basked in the Gloucestershire sunshine 10-0 up.

The Cherry and Whites hit back two minutes later courtesy of prop El Perry, who crashed over from close range following a period of sustained pressure. Emma Sing uncharacteristically missed the conversion from bang in front of the post, but the full-back had her kicking boots on moments later when she slotted home from the touchline after Sarah Beckett had forced her way over.

With half-time looming, Bears number-eight Evie Gallagher was yellow carded for a high tackle, and Gloucester made their advantage count as Sing sliced through to cross the whitewash a minute before the break. The pacey back converted her own score to give the Queensholm outfit a 19-10 interval lead.

Dave Ward’s side came out for the second period in confident mood, and on 48 minutes Ilona Maher scythed into the corner to finish off a sweeping Bears attack. Simi Pam was the catalyst for the try, with her lung-busting ball carry taking Bears deep into Gloucester’s 22.

Trailing by just four points, Bears were unable to build on Maher’s score as Gloucester’s Zoe Aldcroft crossed under the sticks for a converted try just short of the hour mark.

The try of the match came two minutes later by virtue of David, with the star in the making acrobatically diving into the corner to touchdown despite the desperate efforts of a scrambling Gloucester rearguard.

However, Gloucester pushed home their advantage in the closing stages to secure their place in the final thanks to a Hannah Jones try coupled with a Sing penalty.

Bristol Bears | 15.⁠ ⁠Courtney Keight, 14.⁠ ⁠Jasmine Joyce-Butchers, 13.⁠ ⁠Phoebe Murray, 12.⁠ ⁠Amber Reed (cc), 11.⁠ ⁠Ilona Maher, 10.⁠ ⁠Holly Aitchison, 9.⁠ ⁠Keira Bevan; 1.⁠ ⁠Hannah Botterman, 2.⁠ ⁠Lark Atkin-Davies, 3.⁠ ⁠Sarah Bern, 4.⁠ ⁠Hollie Cunningham, 5.⁠ ⁠Abbie Ward (cc), 6.⁠ ⁠Alisha Joyce-Butchers, 7.⁠ ⁠Christiana Balogun, 8.⁠ ⁠Evie Gallagher

Replacements: 16.⁠ ⁠Holly Phillips, 17.⁠ ⁠Simi Pam, 18.⁠ ⁠Elliann Clarke, 19.⁠ ⁠Delaney Burns, 20.⁠ ⁠Row Marston-Mulhearn, 21.⁠ ⁠Ffion Lewis, 22.⁠ ⁠Meg Varley, 23.⁠ ⁠Millie David

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Pat Lam’s side scored three times in each half, with tries from Fitz Harding, the returning Siva Naulago and Viliame Mata cancelling out a trio of Bath scores from Ruaridh McConnochie, Cam Redpath and Tom Carr-Smith, as the sides headed into the break level at 21 apiece.

But the Bears powered clear after the interval, with Harry Byrne, Harry Rowson and Sam Wolstenholme completing the scoring, while keeping the visitors scoreless in the second 40.

It was fast start from the Bears, who opened the scoring courtesy of skipper Harding, powering over from close range after Steven Luatua’s initial surge had taken them within striking distance.

Bath responded immediately when McConnochie collected a loose ball inside the Bears 22 to touch down in the corner, while at the other end, with Benhard Janse van Rensburg in the sin-bin, Naulago’s incisive finish – collecting Byrne’s deft pullback pass to go under the sticks, after the Irishman’s sensational 50:22 – saw the hosts retake the lead.

But as they had done first time around, Bath levelled the scores from the restart with Redpath the beneficiary of a turnover inside the Bears 22 to scoot over, before Carr-Smith raced clear from 40 metres to edge the visitors in front.

Mata’s muscular close-range finish levelled it up at the interval, before Bath were reduced to 14 men early in the second period, with try scorer Carr-Smith shown a yellow card a cynical offside deep in Bath territory.

The Bears took immediate advantage with the impressive Byrne leaping over the breakdown to score his first try in Bristol colours, before Harry Rowson put the game beyond Bath ten minutes from time, sliding in after a well-worked line break from replacement prop Sam Grahamslaw.

There was still time for a sixth try for the home side, as Sam Wolstenholme sniped his way to the line to complete the scoring and seal an eighth successive victory over Bath at Ashton Gate.

Bristol Bears: Tries: Harding 5, Naulago 15, Mata 40, Byrne 58, Rowson 70, Wolstenholme 79. Cons: Byrne 5, 15, Janse van Rensburg 40, 58, Worsley 79. Yellow: Janse van Rensburg 11

Bath Rugby: Tries: McConnochie 7, Redpath 16, Carr-Smith 19. Cons: Bailey 7, 16, 19. Yellow: Carr-Smith 50

The post Report: Bristol Bears 40-21 Bath Rugby appeared first on Bristol Bears Rugby.

Exeter travel to Saracens tomorrow knowing that they need a win to keep pace with the Bears, who scored three lovely tries in front of the TNT cameras in south London.  

Bears took an early lead when Phoebe Murray blasted through the heart of Quins’ defensive line to cross the line in style. It was just what Bears deserved, with the experienced Amber Reed orchestrating the backline from start to finish.

The impressive Ellie Kildunne restored parity on the half hour, racing on to Lucy Packer’s neat grubber to dot down in the corner. 

Five apiece with neither side converting their opening scores, Bears took the lead five minutes before the break courtesy of Wales back-row Alisha Joyce-Butchers, who crossed on the back of a well-worked lineout move. Holly Aitchison converted for a 12-5 advantage going into half-time. 

The Londoners came out for the second half all guns blazing, and despite a strong defensive display, the home side cut the gap to 12-10 by virtue of another Kildunne try – her second of the evening. 

Sarah Bern, in the form of her life for Bears, was tormenting Quins defensive line with a series of lung-busting carries. And on the hour, the England international was rewarded for her endeavour as she crashed over from close range following a blistering Bears attack. Aitchison added the extras to increase Bears’ lead to 19-10. 

Quins threw everything at the Bears in the latter stages, but Dave Ward’s side showed their mettle in defence to close out the game and secure what could be a season-changing win. 

Bristol Bears | 15.⁠ ⁠Courtney Keight, 14.⁠ ⁠Reneeqa Bonner, 13.⁠ ⁠Phoebe Murray, 12.⁠ ⁠Amber Reed (cc), 11.⁠ ⁠Ilona Maher, 10.⁠ ⁠Holly Aitchison, 9.⁠ ⁠Keira Bevan; 1.⁠ ⁠Hannah Botterman, 2.⁠ ⁠Lark Atkin-Davies, 3.⁠ ⁠Sarah Bern, 4.⁠ ⁠Hollie Cunningham, 5.⁠ ⁠Abbie Ward (cc), 6.⁠ ⁠Alisha Joyce-Butchers, 7.⁠ ⁠Christiana Balogun, 8.⁠ ⁠Evie Gallagher.

Replacements: 16.⁠ ⁠Holly Phillips, 17.⁠ ⁠Simi Pam, 18.⁠ ⁠Elliann Clarke, 19.⁠ ⁠Delaney Burns, 20.⁠ ⁠Gabriella Nigrelli, 21.⁠ ⁠Ffion Lewis, 22.⁠ ⁠Meg Varley, 23.⁠ ⁠Millie David.

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Lark Atkin-Davies scored a hat-trick and Ilona Maher crossed twice, while there were further scores from Keira Bevan and Abbie Ward in a thrilling contest in front of the TNT cameras.  

Crucially for Bears, Chiefs were denied a try bonus-point which could be pivotal in their quest for a place in the top four. 

Bears registered the first score through Wales scrum-half Keira Bevan, who got on the end of Sarah Bern’s lung-busting ball carry to score under the posts.  Bevan converted to put Bears 7-0 ahead with six minutes on the clock. 

Hope Rogers hit back for Exeter on 17 minutes, however the hosts ran in three unanswered tries to lead 26-5 at the break. 

Maher, who was playing on the wing, crossed for arguably the try of the match on 23 minutes when she stormed into the corner despite the best attentions of a scrambling Chiefs defence. 

Atkin-Davies crossed for the first of her three tries on the half hour from a driving lineout, before repeating the trick on the stroke of half-time. 

On 48 minutes, Maher doubled her tally – finishing off a devastating involving the impressive Amber Reed. Reed’s touchline conversion increased Bears’ lead to 33-5 and six minutes later Atkin-Davies dotted down for her hat-trick. 

Flo Robinson crossed on the hour for Exeter, which she duly converted to cut the gap to 38-12, but back came the home side with Ward adding a seventh Bears try in the closing stages. 

Georgina Tasker touched down for Exeter’s third try of the afternoon four minutes from time, but it was too little too late. 

Bristol Bears: 15.⁠ ⁠Courtney Keight, 14.⁠ ⁠Reneeqa Bonner, 13.⁠ ⁠Phoebe Murray, 12.⁠ ⁠Amber Reed, 11.⁠ ⁠Ilona Maher, 10.⁠ ⁠Holly Aitchison, 9.⁠ ⁠Keira Bevan; 1.⁠ ⁠Simi Pam, 2.⁠ ⁠Lark Atkin-Davies, 3.⁠ ⁠Sarah Bern, 4.⁠ ⁠Hollie Cunningham, 5.⁠ ⁠Abbie Ward, 6.⁠ ⁠Christiana Balogun, 7.⁠ ⁠Alisha Joyce-Butchers, 8.⁠ ⁠Evie Gallagher.

Replacements: 16.⁠ ⁠Holly Phillips, 17.⁠ ⁠Hannah Botterman, 18.⁠ ⁠Elliann Clarke, 19.⁠ ⁠Delaney Burns, 20.⁠ ⁠Gabriella Nigrelli, 21.⁠ ⁠Ffion Lewis, 22.⁠ ⁠Meg Varley, 23.⁠ ⁠Millie David

The post Report: Bristol Bears 45-17 Exeter Chiefs appeared first on Bristol Bears Rugby.

A Caspar Reeves hat-trick as well as a brace of tries for Evan Morris ensured that Bristol used the width effectively to earn a crucial couple of bonus points on the road.

After a cagey opening few minutes, Quins settled into the game first, racing into a 12-0 lead midway through the first half.

However, the Cubs fought back valiantly with Reeves speeding to the try line for his first of the afternoon, following a turnover on the halfway line cutting the score to 12-5.

Reeves first try gave the match a surge of life, with the hosts replying quickly before the Bristol winger bagged his second.

From first phase, Ollie Harris received the ball with space in front of him where he connected with Reeves who carried the ball through his opposite man to cross the whitewash.

Bruno Lamb smashed the conversion to cut the point deficit to seven points with just over two minutes to play in the half.

Despite only having a short duration of time remaining, both sides managed to add tries to the score board before the interval.

Quins snatched the first in the 34^th minute, using their powerful driving maul to push the ball over before Morris replied with the Cubs third try.

Inside centre, Lamb, was the creator as he threw a dummy to fly through the visitor’s defence before passing inside to his centre partner who dotted the ball down between the posts. Lamb followed up with the conversion to make the half time score 24-19.

The Cubs started the second period as they finished the first – by scoring a converted try, to give them the lead for the first time in the match.

Frey Lant ran a dominant carry from a lineout overthrow to put his side onto the front foot.

The ball was then spun wide to Reeves who ran around the Quins defence to score his third try and make the score 26-24.

Two tries for Quins allowed them to retake the lead as the score grew to 38-26 before the Bristol fightback began.

A piece of magic from George Williams created the fifth try as he offloaded the ball to put Reeves and Morris in behind the Quins defence.

With the ball in his hands, Reeves sped towards the Harlequins full back before passing to Morris who had an easy run in for his second try.

Just over ten minutes remained in the game, with the score locked at 38-31 as Bristol applied pressure on Quins for a prolonged period.

The hosts defence remained solid however as they held on until the final whistle.

Report: Harlequins U17’s 66-17 Bristol Bears U17’s

Bristol Bears U17s suffered a 66-21 defeat the hands of a powerful Quins outfit on the day.

Michael Whittaker, Joe Edwards and Ned Hill all got on the score sheet as they faced off against an impressive side.

Quins opened the scoring early in the half, gaining a 5-0 lead yet Bristol replied quickly with Whittaker evening the score at 5-5.

The Cubs ran several dominant carries in the Harlequins red zone, working towards the try line before the number eight crashed over and Regan Halse kicked the conversion.

Behind for the first time in the match, Quins showed their class scoring three unanswered tries in the remainder of the first period to make the score at the interval 26-7.

The London based side continued their dominance into the second half, scoring another four tries to increase their advantage to 52-7 with just over 15 minutes of the match remaining.

Directly from the kick off following the Quins score, the Cubs turned the ball over and spun it wide to Edwards who dotted down in the corner to score his side’s second five pointer.

The hosts scored two more tries in the game, either side of Hill’s effort in the latter stage of the match.

The blindside flanker capitalised on a collapsed maul to grab his consolatory try, running a hard line to crash over as his side were beaten 66-17.

The post Report: Harlequins U18 38-31 Bristol Bears U18 appeared first on Bristol Bears Rugby.

The visitors ran in five tries, with Krissy Scurfield scoring twice, while Bears’ scores came from Keira Bevan, Millie David, Lark Atkin-Davies and Reneeqa Bonner. 

Loughborough led after 25 minutes through Scurfield, who collected Helena Rowland’s neat grubber kick to dot down in the corner. Rowland converted and six minutes later, hooker Treder forced her way over from a maul.

12-0 down, Bears had to find a way back into the contest, and two tries without reply courtesy of Bevan and David levelled the score going into the interval.

Wales scrum-half Bevan sprinted in for a solo try on 33 minutes, before David added to her tally for the season on the stroke of half-time. 

With the contest poised at 12-apiece at the break, it was Lightning who regained the advantage three minutes into the second half when Scurfield bagged her second of the game, finishing off a slick move involving Scarratt and Carmela Morrall.    

Rowland’s conversion made it 19-12 to Loughborough, who then wrapped up the bonus point on 66 minutes through Martin. 

Kelter all but put the game out of sight when she muscled her way to the line for a try, which Rowland duly converted. 

Atkin-Davies and Bonner crossed in the final ten minutes to secure a try-bonus point. Atkin-Davies bulldozed her way to the line from a driving line-out on 73 minutes and moments later, Bonner took an exquisite offload from Phoebe Murray to sprint half-the length of the field to score.

Bristol Bears | 15.⁠ ⁠Jasmine Joyce-Butchers, 14. Reneeqa Bonner, 13. Ilona Maher, 12. Phoebe Murray, 11. Millie David, 10. Holly Aitchison, 9. Keira Bevan; 1. Hannah Botterman, 2. Lark Atkin-Davies, 3. Sarah Bern, 4. Hollie Cunningham, 5. Abbie Ward (c), 6. Christiana Balogun, 7. Alisha Joyce-Butchers, 8. Evie Gallagher.

Replacements: 16.⁠ ⁠Holly Phillips, 17.⁠ ⁠Simi Pam, 18.⁠ ⁠Elliann Clarke, 19.⁠ ⁠Delaney Burns, 20.⁠ ⁠Gabriella Nigrelli, 21.⁠ ⁠Ffion Lewis, 22.⁠⁠ ⁠Ella Lovibond, Courtney Keight

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Pat Lam’s side ran in 12 tries with Bristolian Bailey bagging a first-half hat-trick and adding a fourth early in the second period, while a Benjamin Elizalde double and further scores from Benjamin Grondona, Noah Heward, Kieran Marmion, Kalaveti Ravouvou, Tomas Gwilliam and Joe Jenkins completing the scoring.

The Bears opened the scoring just three minutes in when Benjamin Grondona powered on to a short pass from Marmion, before Bailey grabbed his first of the day, collecting Harry Byrne’s long, floated pass to score out wide.

Noah Heward raced over for his side’s third after a sweeping set-piece attack but left the field with injury shortly after.

Ampthill pulled a score back when Mason Cullen won the race to a loose ball, but Marmion quickly cancelled it out after good work from Will Capon in the build -up.

Elizalde scored either side of half time as the Bears raced past the 50-point mark, before Ravouvou raced clear from 50 metres for the visitors’ tenth try of the afternoon.

Tomas Gwilliam collected Josh Caulfield’s offload to score under the sticks after strong work from the returning second row, before Owain McNulty scored Ampthill’s second late on.

But the Bears had the final say with Joe Jenkins completing the scoring in Bedforshire.

Ampthill: Tries: Cullen 20, McNulty 78. Cons: Barton 20, 78. Yellow: Cullen 48

Bristol Bears: Tries: B Grondona 3, Bailey 9, 18, 34, 56, Heward 16, Marmion 23, Elizalde 32, 47, Ravouvou 67, Gwilliam 69, Jenkins 80. Cons: Byrne 3, 9, Elizalde 32, Janse van Rensburg 47, 56, 67, 69

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Debuting fly half Bazalgette produced a miraculous finish midway through the first half to bag his maiden try for the club with centurion prop, Max Lahiff, also getting on the scoresheet.

Back rower, Will Ramply, scored the Bears only try in the second half, powering over from ten metres out as the Reds proved to be a quality outfit.

The Reds started quickly, running in three early tries to take a commanding 21-0 lead but the Bears remained resilient against an experienced opposition.

Sol Taufa started the move which led to the first Bears score, carrying the ball brilliantly past numerous Queensland players, eventually earning a penalty around 40 metres away from the try line.

Bazalgette kicked the penalty perfectly, earning his side a lineout only five metres away which Gabriel Oghre threw and retrieved, setting up a driving maul.

Once the maul had been halted, the hooker peeled to the blindside connecting with Bazalgette who finished acrobatically in the corner.

The fly half on loan from Hartpury added the extras, kicking a pinpoint conversion from the touchline to make the score 21-7.

The visitors replied with two more scores, as Wallabies pair Tate McDermott and Fraser McReight both crossed the paint.

Unphased by their skilful opposition, the Bears scored a second with a Paddy Pearce jackal turnover penalty acting as the catalyst.

Continuing his impressive kicking performance, Bazalgette again got his side to within five metres of the Reds try line with the penalty.

The driving maul was set up successfully before being collapsed, forcing Bristol into more work to cross the line.

After multiple phases mere millimetres from the try zone, tighthead prop Lahiff crashed over reducing the score to 35-12, with Bazalgette smashing the conversion to take the Bears points tally to 14.

The Reds scored converted tries either side of half time to increase the score to 49-14, with the Reds running in five unanswered tries in the second half with just over 10 minutes to play.

However, in the 70^th minute, Bristol bagged a third. A dynamic short line from Tom Doughty got the Bears to around 10 metres away from the Reds’ line, giving his team a great attacking platform.

Guest player, Ramply, took the ball on in the next phase, doing brilliantly to spot a gap in the visitor’s defence and firing through it, working all the way to the try line where he crashed over, taking the Bristol point tally to 19.

Bazalgette continued his flawless performance with the boot, converting the try scored by the Nottingham University man.

The Australian side had the last say in the match with Jock Campbell grabbing a score with two minutes to play, making the final score 82-21.

The post Report: Bristol Bears 21-82 Queensland Reds appeared first on Bristol Bears Rugby.

Two tries apiece from Kalaveti Ravouvou and Noah Heward and further scores from Gabriel Oghre, Viliame Mata, Kieran Marmion and Deago Bailey powered Pat Lam’s side to a seventh league win of the season, with Harry Byrne and Benhard Janse van Rensburg adding six conversions between them.

The Bears raced into a quickfire 21-0 lead inside the opening quarter, as Gabriel Oghre rumbled over from a lineout drive, Noah Heward hacked a loose ball ahead and regathered and Kalaveti Ravouvou combined beautifully with Kieran Marmion on the short side to run in from 50 metres, before tries from Callum Chick and Jamie Blamire brought the Falcons into contention.

A second Ravouvou score, courtesy of some slick work from Rich Lane in the build up, looked to have the hosts clear again but Max Clark and Ben Stevenson closed the gap to only three points heading into the closing stages.

But with Newcastle a man down after Alex Hearle’s yellow card for a high shot on Janse van Rensburg, the Bears were ruthlessly clinical as Viliame Mata, Kieron Marmion and Deago Bailey scored before Heward added an eighth with the clock in red.

Bristol Bears: Tries: Oghre 5, Heward 7, 80, Ravouvou 18, 52, Mata 70, Marmion 72, Bailey 77. Cons: Byrne 5, 7, 18, 52, Janse van Rensburg 72, 80. Pens: Byrne 59

Newcastle Falcons: Tries: Chick 30, Blamire 37, Clark 53, Stevenson 62. Cons: Connon 30, 37, 53, 62. Yellow: Hearle 68

Bristol Bears: Lane; Heward, Jenkins, Janse van Rensburg, Kavouvou; Byrne, Marmion; Thomas, Oghre, Lahiff; Dun, Owen, S. Grondona, Harding, Mata. Replacements: Capon, Woolmore, Kloska, Luatua, Heenan, Wolstenholme, Elizalde, Bailey.

Newcastle Falcons: Obatoyinbo; Pepper, Hearle, Clark, Stevenson; Connon, Stuart; Brocklebank, Blamire, McCalllum; De Chaves, McDonald Seran, Van der Walt, Lockwood, Chick. Replacements: Fletcher, Rewcastle, De Bruin, Hawkins, Leatherbarrow, Davis, Wilkinson, Spencer.

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