After a strong win against the Newcastle Falcons last week, the Bristol Bears picked up their second win in a row when they overcame Bath with a 15-13 win at the Recreation Ground.
One try from each team saw a very low scoring first half. Bristol inside center James Williams crossed the line after some magic from Semi Radradra and Miles Reid drove from close range to push Bath into the half-time lead and five points from the boot of Piers Francis.
The Bears blew away the blocks early in the second half to send Siva Naulago into the corner to retake the lead and then Francis and MacGinty exchanged penalties as Pat Lam’s men secured the victory.
Rugby reporters Harry Royle and John Evely take a closer look at the individual performances of the Bristol Bears players:
15. Carlos Piutau – 7
Looking dangerous every time he touched the ball, whether it was stepping, offloading or dodging Bath players, he was wreaking havoc on Johann van Graan’s defence. However, he went MIA in the second half and barely got the ball.
14. Shiva Naulago – 7
He almost set up the Bears’ second down after charging a kick from Piers Francis and then returning it to Harry Thacker… however, the return of the bunt was incorrectly deemed a knock-on. He finished his attempt in a very nonchalant fashion, getting in to leave Matt Gallagher in his rearview mirror. However, he did show some signs of rust by dropping a couple of passes that he really should have caught. He legal with all his entries having been a red card on his last visit to the Rec.
13. Semirradradra – 9
By far the best Bristol player and the best player on the pitch.
He executed a sublime line to split the Bath guards and then finished his line break with a perfectly timed volley to James Williams, who scored Bristol’s first try of the game. He didn’t miss a beat as he threaded a beautiful pass to Naulago, who scored the Bears’ second try, and then launched another perfectly weighted pass to his Fijian teammate, but Naulago couldn’t hold it.
A couple of crisp tackles too.
In this frame of mind, he makes the game look so easy.
12. James Williams – 7
He showed a great rugby IQ for his try, as he recognized that Radradra had spotted a gap in the Bath defense and ran the perfect support line, taking the offload cleanly and showing good strength to land his first Premiership try at your birth.
After that he went about his job not really threatening the Bath defence, but he was excellent in defence.
11. Gabriel Ibitoye – 5
A good offload released Harding on the line and he came up with a great save attempt at Max Ojomoh in the corner as he moved a couple of meters here and there, but never got a chance to fully stretch his legs.
A couple of really bad kicks saw him get attacked and then thrown straight to max, both times building pressure on his side.
10. AJ MacGinty – 7
The USA international was a constant threat with the ball in hand.
He cut through Bath’s defensive line like butter as he put the Bears in front in the build-up to Naulago’s try. He picked up a yellow card early in the second half for failing to shoot and cost his team the lead temporarily, but the sin was more from an accumulation of infringements from the visitors who were on the wrong end of the penalty count all season. evening.
9. Harry Randall – 7
Neither he nor Spencer seemed to be on their A game tonight with the Bears attack struggling to really switch gears, but their ability to deliver the ball from the base of the ruck allowed Bristol to attack beyond Bath’s more protected area: one. such a pass put Radradra in a hole in the build up to Williams’ attempt.
He executed a good inside line for MacGinty to keep up the momentum building on his second try in a great one night personal milestone as club captain for the first time.
1. Yann Thomas – 7
He awarded a penalty on the Bristol line which led to a Bath tap and go, for which Miles Reid scored moments later.
But I give you my word he didn’t do the scrum right, including a part of defending the match against England star Will Stuart, who couldn’t give Bath the momentum they hoped for. He was the neutralizer and moved around the park well.
2. Harry Thacker – 6
He scored a disallowed try which should have stood, however Matthew Carly had made up his mind. He had some slick touches throughout the game but missed at times, however he did a much better job than Niall Annett at lineout and made 15 tackles.
3. Max Lahiff – 8
The former Bath man was nothing short of powerful in the scrum. On paper, the hosts should have had a significant advantage in the scrum with Lahiff facing Beno Obano, but that was not what transpired on the night, as the loose-headed England international had very little joy in the coalface.
4. Joe Joyce – 67
Playing in his last derby match and coming back from injury to do so, the big lock made some powerful runs and kept the ball alive with some pinpoint volleys.
5. Chris Vui – 6
It was the 100th appearance of the lock and it ended up being such a forgettable game. He produced a couple of good discharges and topped his breakthrough work, but that was about it.
6. Sam Jeffries – 6
First game back since he got hurt in September and what a bad game to make his comeback, just like most players didn’t do anything really wrong but they didn’t do anything right. He made 14 tackles and lasted the game.
7. Fitz Harding- 7
One of the livelier forwards on the pitch, especially with the ball in hand, as he was seen hurtling down the tram tracks a couple of times. It is not yet clear what will be the best position for him at the back.
8.Magnus Bradbury- 6
He did his best to slow down Bath’s already slow ball, but in his eyes a sub-par performance from the Scotland international.
Replacements:
16. Bryan Byrne – 6
17.Jake Woolmore-6
18. Jorge Kloska -7
19.Jake Heenan-6
20. Sam Lewis n/a
21. Andy Uren – n/a
22. Sam Bedlow- n/a
23. Joan Lloyd – n/a