Bristol bully Bath in Premiership opener
MATCH REPORT: Bristol secured the West Country bragging rights over Bath with a thumping 43-16 win before a record Ashton Gate crowd.
A sell-out crowd of 26 399 saw this Premiership season opener, the largest attendance for a sporting fixture since the stadium’s redevelopment concluded in 2016.
Bristol ran in seven tries to claim a bonus-point victory and register their determination to improve on last season’s ninth-place finish.
First-half tries from Luke Morahan, Nathan Hughes and Mat Protheroe gave the Bears the lead at half-time.
A try from Zach Mercer and 11 points from the boot of Rhys Priestland kept Bath in the game, but second-half tries from Piers O’Conor, John Afoa, Premiership debutant Ioan Lloyd as well as a second for Morahan gave Bristol the victory.
Bath had to defend for long spells and only a combination of some careless Bears handling and Priestland’s kicking kept them in the contest until the final 15 minutes.
Bristol gave a Premiership debut to former Wasps number eight Hughes and veteran lock forward Dave Atwood made his first Bears appearance for over 10 years following his summer return from Bath. Hughes stormed towards the try-line in the first minute after Bristol instantly won turnover ball and Morahan finished in the corner following some patient play and neat footwork from Charles Piutau.
Bath replied with a Priestland penalty, but most of the opening exchanges took place in their territory and Hughes’ debut try soon arrived. Hooker Harry Thacker fed Piutau with an inside ball and Hughes was on the New Zealander’s shoulder to score under the posts, with Callum Sheedy adding the extras.
Priestland cut the deficit with a 40-metre penalty but missed another from closer in to reduce the gap further. But Bath went in front when Aled Brew’s kick and chase set up a lineout five yards out after Mat Protheroe had scampered across from the other wing to save a try.
Bath secured possession at the front and Zach Mercer drove through the maul to stretch for the line. Priestland converted from out wide and Bath led 13-12. The Bears had been sloppy after their bright start, but they pressed again and were rewarded for turning down a kickable penalty seconds from the interval.
Bath held up several drives close to the line but the ball was finally spun to the right for Protheroe to step inside and score. Sheedy missed a simple conversion for Bristol to lead 17-13 at half-time – a fair reflection on the balance of play.
Bristol extended their lead as Dan Thomas’ brilliant pick-up got the Bears’ backline moving again, and Hughes was in the outside channel this time to send Protheroe through. The wing was dragged down just short of the line, but Piers O’Connor was in support to secure a bonus point and Sheedy added the conversion.
Priestland kicked his third penalty, but Bath replacement Lewis Boyce was yellow-carded for a swinging arm after 65 minutes with Bristol camped on the try line. Bristol immediately made their one-man advantage count as prop John Afoa burrowed over from a maul and Sheedy added the touchline conversion.
Replacement Lloyd, at 18 the youngest player to play for the Bears in the Premiership, and Morahan’s second try wrapped up the win in the final moments.
How good were these two tonight?! 💙
This is just the start 💪
— Bristol Bears (@BristolBears) October 18, 2019
The scorers:
For Bristol Bears:
Tries: Morahan 2, Hughes, Protheroe, O’Conor, Lloyd, Afoa
Cons: Sheedy 3, Lloyd
For Bath:
Try: Mercer
Con: Priestland
Pens: Priestland 3
Teams:
Bristol Bears:15 Charles Piutau, 14 Luke Morahan, 13 Piers O’Conor, 12 Will Hurrell, 11 Mat Protheroe, 10 Callum Sheedy, 9 Andy Uren, 8 Nathan Hughes, 7 Dan Thomas, 6 Steven Luatua (captain), 5 Joe Joyce, 4 Dave Attwood, 3 John Afoa, 2 Harry Thacker, 1 Jake Woolmore
Replacements: 16 Shaun Malton, 17 Yann Thomas, 18 Max Lahiff, 19 Chris Vui, 20 Jake Heenan, 21 Harry Randall, 22 Ioan Lloyd, 23 Alapati Leiua
Bath: 15 Tom Homer, 14 Aled Brew, 13 Max Clark, 12 Max Wright, 11 Levi Davis, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Will Chudley, 8 Zach Mercer, 7 Tom Ellis, 6 Mike Williams, 5 Charlie Ewels (captain), 4 Josh McNally, 3 Christian Judge, 2 Tom Dunn, 1 Beno Obano
Replacements: 16 Jack Walker, 17 Lewis Boyce, 18 Will Stuart, 19 Elliott Stooke, 20 Josh Bayliss, 21 Chris Cook, 22 Freddie Burns, 23 Jamie Roberts
Referee: Tom Foley
Assistant Referees: Jack Makepeace & Simon McConnell
TMO: Stuart Terheege
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