Bristol too good for Perpignan
CHALLENGE CUP REPORT: Bristol Bears picked up a 33-19 bonus-point win over Perpignan at Ashton Gate on Friday as they ended their EPCR Challenge Cup Pool A campaign in style.
Bristol scored five tries, with Ellis Genge going over twice while Harry Randall, Dan Thomas and Siva Naulago also crossed, all in the first half.
Perpignan, meanwhile, scored three: Ali Crossdale, Nino Seguela and Valentin Moro all went over for the visiting French side, who are now out of the competition.
Despite their dominance, Bristol fell behind early when Crossdale went over for USAP on 11 minutes, Matteo Rodor kicking the first of his two conversions in the game.
But that lead lasted all of three minutes, with Randall going over for the home side and AJ MacGinty converting.
That score ignited a salvo of tries, as Bristol crossed secured the bonus point before the half hour mark, Genge picking up his first try to give Bristol the lead on 20 minutes.
MacGinty converted that one too, as he did Thomas’ 23rd minute cross. In fact, he only missed one conversion, when Naulago went over on 27 minutes.
Not satisfied with four tries, Genge scored Bristol’s fifth and his second with the first-half clock in the red, but that would prove their final points of the match.
USAP, knowing that their needed victory was not forthcoming, went out guns blazing in the second period and were rewarded when Seguela went over for an unconverted try in the 47th minute.
They scored their third not long after, Valentin Moro going over before Matteo Rodor kicked the extras, though there would be not improbable turnaround for the visitors.
Bristol are now confirmed as fifth-place finishers in Pool A and will wait to find out their Round of 16 opponents. The defeat means USAP are out of the competition, having lost all four pool games.
The scorers:
For Bristol:
Tries: Randall, Genge 2, Thomas, Naulago
Cons: MacGinty 4
For Perpignan:
Tries: Crossdale, Seguela, Moro
Cons: Rodor 2
Teams:
Bristol Bears: 15 Rich Lane, 14 Deago Bailey, 13 Semi Radradra, 12 James Williams, 11 Siva Naulago, 10 AJ MacGinty, 9 Harry Randall, 8 Fitz Harding, 7 Dan Thomas, 6 Magnus Bradbury, 5 Joe Batley, 4 Joe Joyce, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 2 Harry Thacker, 1 Ellis Genge (captain).
Replacements: 16 Fred Davies, 17 Jake Woolmore, 18 Max Lahiff, 19 Chris Vui, 20 Jake Heenan, 21 Andy Uren, 22 Callum Sheedy, 23 Jack Bates.
Perpignan: 15 Ali Crossdale, 14 Nino Seguela, 13 Edward Sawaileau, 12 Pato Fernandez, 11 Lucas Dubois, 10 Alexandre Perez, 9 Matteo Rodor (captain), 8 Valentin Moro, 7 Ewan Bertheau, 6 Taniela Ramasibana, 5 Andrei Mahu, 4 Bastien Chinarro, 3 Akato Fakatika, 2 Mike Tadjer, 1 Samir Bououda.
Replacements: 16 Victor Montgaillard, 17 Xavier Chiocci, 18 Vatang Jincharadze, 19 Posolo Tuilagi, 20 Victor Moreaux, 21 Lenny Viola, 22 Keanu Desrues, 23 Lilian Pichon.
Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)
Assistant Referees: Ru Campbell (Scotland), Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa)
TMO: Andrew McMenemy (Scotland)
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