Bristol Bears kept their PWR play-off hopes alive with a seven-try victory over Exeter Chiefs at a roaring Ashton Gate.
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
