Ten days ago, Bristol Bears stepped out onto the pitch in Newcastle as unbeaten league leaders with the hope that some of the issues from season had been addressed, if not fully dealt with.
Unfortunately, as they trotted mournfully off the Ashton Gate turf on Friday night, after shipping 50 points to Exeter Chiefs and succumbing to a record-breaking home Premiership defeat, it was crystal clear that Bristol are still a million miles away from being consistent performers at the highest level.
The progress of our south west neighbours has always been the template, ever since that heart-breaking night at the Memorial Stadium 12 years ago when they consigned us to further years of rugby purgatory and started their own journey up the Premiership mountain.
