Bristol back on top after win over Saints

MATCH REPORT: A comeback by Bristol Bears saw them move to the top of the Premiership with a bonus-point victory over defending champions Northampton Saints.

The Bears scored 17 unanswered points in the second half to produce a brilliant comeback from 0-15 down in the first half, to seal a 31-23 victory over Northampton Saints.

Northampton’s George Hendry and Josh Kemenry scored after 18 minutes to take the lead 15-0, but the hosts recovered through a Gabriel Ibitoye try before Kalaveti Ravouvou scored either side of half-time.

However, the Bears fought back brilliantly, scoring two tries of their own towards the end of the first half, to get back into the game before taking control in the second half.

Northampton scored a brilliant late try through James Ramm, but Rory Hutchinson was unable to convert for the two losing bonus points.

The Saints have now lost all of their away matches this season, but they were missing a number of international players.

Scorers:
For Bristol:
Tries: Ibitoye, Ravouvou 2, Batley
Cons: MacGinty 4
Pens: MacGinty

For Northampton:
Tries: Hendy, Kemeny, Ramm
Cons: Makepeace-Cubitt
Pens: Makepeace-Cubitt 2

Teams:

Bristol Bears: 15 Rich Lane, 14 Jack Bates, 13 Kalaveti Ravouvou, 12 Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 11 Gabriel Ibitoye, 10 AJ MacGinty, 9 Kieran Marmion, 8 Fitz Harding (c), 7 Benjamin Grondona, 6 Steven Luatua, 5 Joe Batley, 4 James Dun, 3 Max Lahiff, 2 Gabriel Oghre, 1 Jake Woolmore
Replacements: 16 Harry Thacker, 17 Yann Thomas, 18 George Kloska, 19 Joe Owen, 20 Jake Heenan, 21 Sam Wolstenholme, 22 Sam Worsley, 23 Benjamin Elizalde

Northampton Saints: 15 George Hendy, 14 James Ramm, 13 Tom Litchfield, 12 Rory Hutchinson, 11 Tom Seabrook, 10 George Makepeace-Cubitt, 9 Tom James, 8 Henry Pollock, 7 Tom Pearson, 6 Josh Kemeny, 5 Alex Coles (c), 4 Temo Mayanavanua, 3 Elliot Millar Mills, 2 Curtis Langdon, 1 Tom West
Replacements: 16 Craig Wright, 17 Emmanuel Iyogun, 18 Luke Green, 19 Gavin Thornbury, 20 Angus Scott-Young, 21 Archie McParland, 22 Charlie Savala, 23 Jake Garside

Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys
Assistant Referees: Anthony Woodthorpe, Harry Walbaum
TMO: Andrew Jackson