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Match Report | Bath Rugby 20-40 Bristol Bears

Bath Rugby 20 v Bristol Bears 40

Bath Rugby suffered a 40-20 defeat to Gallagher Premiership leaders Bristol Bears in Round 18.

Tries for Anthony Watson and Rhys Priestland alongside a Ben Spencer penalty gave the hosts a positive advantage in the first half but the visitors replied befoe the break through Nathan Hughes.

A penalty try and Max Malins turned the scoreline on its head and Charles Piutau extended the Bears’ lead ahead of Watson’s second of the match.

Tom Dunn was red carded late on and Bristol made the extra man count with Ben Earl and Malins crossing to seal the win.

Bristol attacked from the kick-off with Kyle Sinckler haring down the middle of the pitch but Bath remained patient in their pursuit to win the ball back and cleared their lines following a breakdown infringement.

Malins had a score ruled out after a forward pass before pressure turned into points for Bath. Max Clark forced his opposite number into a handling error and Cam Redpath kicked on for Watson who raced in to dot down.

Second row Josh McNally relentless approach in attack led to a second of the afternoon. In the face of the Bristol backline, a ball out the back was picked off by the returning Priestland and the Welshman cantered in unopposed.

Spencer kept the scoreboard ticking over but Bears fly-half Callum Sheedy spotted space on the wing and kicked for Hughes to go over prior to the interval.

Bristol’s scrum powered them on to a penalty try and whilst loosehead prop Juan Schoeman was in the sin bin, the away side exploited space out wide with Malins sliding home. Full-back Piutau followed up moments later on an arcing outside line.

A moment of brilliance saw Watson grab his brace. Priestland kicked high to the corner and the British & Irish Lion leaped superbly to gather and score Bath’s third.

Any hopes of a comeback were unfortunately thwarted when Bath were reduced to 14 – hooker Dunn saw red for a high shot.

Bristol capitalised on their numerical gain to confirm the result. First, Earl burrowed home and then his fellow Saracens loanee Malins added another to his tally.


Reaction 


GALLERY


Bath Rugby

15. Tom de Glanville, 14. Anthony Watson, 13. Max Clark, 12. Cameron Redpath, 11. Will Muir, 10. Orlando Bailey, 9. Ben Spencer; 1. Juan Schoeman, 2. Tom Dunn, 3. Will Stuart, 4. Josh McNally ©, 5. Elliott Stooke 6. Josh Bayliss, 7. Miles Reid, 8. Taulupe Faletau

Replacements: 16. Jacques du Toit, 17. Jamie Bhatti, 18. Christian Judge, 19. Charlie Ewels, 20. Tom Ellis, 21. Will Chudley, 22. Rhys Priestland, 23. Alex Gray

Bristol Bears

15. Charles Piutau, 14. Luke Morahan, 13. Semi Radradra, 12. Siale Piutau, 11. Max Malins, 10. Callum Sheedy, 9. Andy Uren; 1. Yann Thomas, 2. Bryan Byrne, 3. Kyle Sinckler, 4. Dave Attwood, 5. Chris Vui, 6. Steven Luatua ©, 7. Ben Earl, 8. Nathan Hughes

 

Replacements: 16. Jake Kerr, 17. Jake Woolmore, 18. John Afoa, 19. Ed Holmes, 20. Jake Heenan, 21. Tom Kessell, 22. Ioan Lloyd, 23. Alapati Leiua


 

Match details

Recreation Ground
Gallagher Premiership
8 May 2021
KO 16:30

Referee: Luke Pearce
Half Time score: 15-7

Bath:
Tries: Watson (11, 66), Priestland (13)
Conversions: Spencer (13)
Penalties: Spencer (29)
Bristol:
Tries: Hughes (36), Malins (54, 80), Piutau (62), Earl (71)
Conversions: Sheedy (37, 55, 63), Lloyd (73)

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MATCH STARTS

Match underway between Bath and Bristol.

8'

Substitution

Rhys Priestland replaces Orlando Bailey for Bath.

12'

Try for Bath! Bath 5 - 0 Bristol

Anthony Watson scores for Bath.

13'

Try for Bath! Bath 10 - 0 Bristol

Rhys Priestland scores for Bath.

14'

Conversion! Bath 12 - 0 Bristol

Ben Spencer with a conversion for Bath.

19'

Substitution

Orlando Bailey replaces Rhys Priestland for Bath.

30'

Penalty Goal! Bath 15 - 0 Bristol

Ben Spencer kicks a penalty goal for Bath.

34'

Substitution

Christian Judge replaces Will Stuart for Bath.

37'

Try for Bristol! Bath 15 - 5 Bristol

Nathan Hughes scores for Bristol.

38'

Conversion! Bath 15 - 7 Bristol

Callum Sheedy with a conversion for Bristol.

42'

HALF TIME

Match score: Bath 15 - 7 Bristol.

SECOND HALF STARTS

We’re underway again.

50'

Try for Bristol! Bath 15 - 12 Bristol

scores for Bristol.

50'

Yellow Card!

Bath lose Juan Schoeman for ten minutes.

52'

Substitution

Charlie Ewels replaces Elliott Stooke for Bath.

52'

Substitution

Rhys Priestland replaces Orlando Bailey for Bath.

53'

Substitution

Alapati Leiua replaces Siale Piutau for Bristol.

53'

Substitution

Jake Heenan replaces Nathan Hughes for Bristol.

54'

Substitution

Jamie Bhatti replaces Josh Bayliss for Bath.

55'

Try for Bristol! Bath 15 - 17 Bristol

Max Malins scores for Bristol.

56'

Conversion! Bath 15 - 19 Bristol

Callum Sheedy with a conversion for Bristol.

59'

Substitution

Jake Woolmore replaces Yann Thomas for Bristol.

59'

Substitution

Jake Kerr replaces Bryan Byrne for Bristol.

59'

Substitution

John Afoa replaces Kyle Sinckler for Bristol.

61'

Substitution

Josh Bayliss replaces Juan Schoeman for Bath.

63'

Try for Bristol! Bath 15 - 24 Bristol

Charles Piutau scores for Bristol.

64'

Conversion! Bath 15 - 26 Bristol

Callum Sheedy with a conversion for Bristol.

64'

Substitution

Will Chudley replaces Ben Spencer for Bath.

64'

Substitution

Alex Gray replaces Will Muir for Bath.

65'

Substitution

Ioan Lloyd replaces Charles Piutau for Bristol.

67'

Try for Bath! Bath 20 - 26 Bristol

Anthony Watson scores for Bath.

70'

Red Card!

Tom Dunn sent off for Bath.

71'

Substitution

Tom Ellis replaces Miles Reid for Bath.

71'

Substitution

Jacques du Toit replaces Josh Bayliss for Bath.

72'

Try for Bristol! Bath 20 - 31 Bristol

Ben Earl scores for Bristol.

74'

Conversion! Bath 20 - 33 Bristol

Ioan Lloyd with a conversion for Bristol.

74'

Substitution

Ed Holmes replaces Steven Luatua for Bristol.

74'

Substitution

Tom Kessell replaces Callum Sheedy for Bristol.

81'

Try for Bristol! Bath 20 - 38 Bristol

Max Malins scores for Bristol.

84'

FULL TIME! It’s a win for Bristol.

Final score: Bath 20 - 38 Bristol.