Bristol Bears took themselves to the highest of the Gallagher Premiership with a bonus-point victory over defending champions Northampton Saints.
The Bears scored 17 unanswered factors within the second half to provide a superb comeback from 0-15 down within the first half.
That is the Bears’ first victory at Ashton Gate this season, as the house crowd have been handled to an entertaining Friday night time.
Joe Batley scored the bonus-point strive after some sensible offloading from Gabriel Ibitoye and co.
Kalaveti Ravouvou’s brace modified the sport for the hosts, because the Fijian sparkled on his first begin of the season. Ravouvou scored simply earlier than half time after which put the Bears in entrance with a superb break by the Northampton defence.
The guests had management of the sport after 18 minutes, scoring two tries in only a matter of minutes to fully stun Bristol.
Nevertheless, the Bears fought again brilliantly, scoring two tries of their very own in the direction of the top of the primary half, to get again into the sport earlier than realling taking management within the second half.
Northampton scored a superb late strive by James Ramm, however Rory Hutchinson was unable to transform for the 2 shedding bonus factors.
The Saints have now misplaced all of their away matches this season, however they have been lacking numerous worldwide gamers.
Speaking Level – Sensible Bristol
The Bears took their time to get going, with Saints going fifteen factors forward within the first half, however the hosts have been unplayable through the second half.
Bristol scored seventeen unanswered factors through the second half, as Ravouvou went over simply earlier than the break after which in the beginning of the second interval.
Among the offloading and passing from the Bears was scintillating and shocked the defending champions, who’re nonetheless but to win away from residence.
The Bears now sit on the prime of the desk and have made a wonderful begin to the season.
Participant of the Match – Kalaveti Ravouvou (Bristol Bears)
The Fijian was making his first begin of the season and he didn’t disappoint the Ashton Gate crowd.
Ravouvou scored two tries for the hosts to get them again into the match after a tough first 20 minutes or so.
The centre made a strong break simply earlier than half time to attain beneath the posts after which powered over after some nice Bristol dealing with.
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Participant Scores
Bristol Bears: Woolmore 6, Oghre 6, Lahiff 5, Dun 6, Batley 8, Luatua 7, Grondona 7, Harding 6, Marmion 6, MacGinty 8, Ibitoye 9, Janse Van Rensburg 7, Ravouvou 10*, Bates 7, Lane 7.
Replacements: Thacker 7, Thomas 6, Kloska 6, Owen 7, Heenan 7, Wolstenholme 6, Worsley 6, Elizalde 5.
Northampton Saints: West 5, Langdon 6, Millar Mills 5, Mayanavanua 5, Coles 6, Kemeny 7, Pearson 9, Pollock 8, James 7, Makepeace-Cubitt 8, Seabrook 6, Hutchinson 8, Litchfield 6, Ramm 6, Hendy 6.
Replacements: Wright 5, Iyogun 5, Inexperienced 6, Thornbury 5, Scott-Younger 5, McParland 4, Savala 5, Garside 5.
Match Highlights:
18’ NORTHAMPTON TRY! BRISTOL BEARS 0-8 NORTHAMPTON SAINTS (HENDY)!
Northampton have the primary strive of the match by George Hendy! The guests flip the ball over in their very own half and switch defence to assault quickly, earlier than Hendy bursts previous three gamers and goes over beneath the posts. What a strive.
21’ TRY FOR NORTHAMPTON! BRISTOL BEARS 0-15 NORTHAMPTON SAINTS (KEMENY)! The guests have two tries in a matter of minutes after one other sensible breakaway. The wonderful Tom Pearson bursts by a sort out and breaks away brilliantly earlier than organising Josh Kemeny who goes over within the nook.
30’ BRISTOL TRY! BRISTOL BEARS 5-15 NORTHAMPTON SAINTS (IBITOYE)!
Bristol are again within the recreation! It appeared like they’d knocked the ball on however the referee waived play on and so they labored the ball nicely, earlier than getting it out to the electrical Ibitoye who went over within the nook.
34’ BRISTOL TRY! BRISTOL BEARS 14-15 NORTHAMPTON SAINTS(RAVOUVOU)! Kalaveti Ravouvou scores on his first Premiership begin of the season! The Bears have achieved to Northampton what they’d achieved in the beginning of the match. The Fijian makes a wonderful break by the center of the Saints defence and goes over beneath the posts.
56’ BRISTOL TRY! BRISTOL BEARS 19-18 NORTHAMPTON SAINTS (RAVOUVOU)! The hosts lastly have the lead! They work the ball brilliantly from their very own half patiently, earlier than the ball is performed by Heenan into the arms of Ravouvou who has his second strive of the night time.
70’ BRISTOL TRY! BRISTOL BEARS 29-18 NORTHAMPTON SAINTS (BATLEY)!
What an unbelievable strive from the hosts! Ibitoye produces a superb offload to set his facet away, earlier than Joe Batley picks up a wonderful offload from Wolstenholme to attain the bonus level strive for the Bears. This has been some second half from Bristol.
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80′ NORTHAMPTON TRY! BRISTOL BEARS 31-23 NORTHAMPTON SAINTS (RAMM)!
Wow, wow, wow! That’s an unbelievable strive from Northampton. Hutchinson breaks by the Bristol defence earlier than choosing out James Ramm with an audacious go and Ramm scored within the nook.
Key Stat
– 0/5 = Defending champions Northampton Saints are winless in all 5 Premiership away video games this season.