Bristol Bears retained their unbeaten European Challenge Cup record as they cruised to a pragmatic and decisive 35-19 victory over Zebre at Ashton Gate on Sunday afternoon.
Pat Lam’s men secured a bonus point win thanks to five-pointers from Joe Batley, Will Porter, Semi Radradra, Ioan Lloyd and Yann Thomas and the imperious boot of AJ MacGinty providing 10 points, while the visitors kept the game competitive with a penalty try and a late flurry of scores from former Premiership players Kobus van Wyk and Jacques du Toit.
READ MORE: Bristol Bears 35-19 Zebre LIVE: Reaction and higlights from victory in the Challenge Cup
Despite Zebre waking up first following kick-off, it was the hosts that got points on the board earlier, with a bizarre score that saw an overwhelmed Richard Kriel pass the ball into the hands of Batley while manoeuvring behind his own posts, all the second rower had to do was dot it down.
The Italian side responded quickly as a penalty try was awarded for what was deemed a deliberate knock-on from Ioan Lloyd on an offload from former Bears man Tiff Eden. The Wales international was condemned to the sin bin for his wrongdoing.
The man disadvantage rejuvenated the Bears, who regained the lead moments later with yet another peculiar try, with Zebre scrum-half Ratko Jelic absent-mindedly rolling the ball over his own try line while preparing a box kick, only for his opposite number Porter to predatorily pounce for the score.
Bristol kept their foot on the gas, extending their lead as Porter cut a hard line through a gap before popping outside to put the try line at the irrepressible Radradra’s mercy.
The bonus point was secured as a MacGinty netball passed inside to Lloyd allowed the Welshman to gain redemption for his early error by touching down after a clear run-in.
After a scrappy 15 minutes following the interval, Radradra once again made a case for his games to be on pay-per-view with another trademark contribution, gorgeously nailing a blind offload out the back to the supporting Thomas who bundled his way over the whitewash.
But a leak began to open in the Bristol canvas, as the defensive line was overwhelmed by Zebre in the right wide channel for an easy run-in for the electric Kobus van Wyk.
After a Matteo Nocera effort was ruled out by the TMO and Joe Batley received a yellow card for obstructing Eden in an attacking effort, the visitors added another consolation score to their late flurry as du Toit scored the final try of the game by steering the driving maul to the line.
The hosts exerted lineout control, and took advantage of their opportunities in a well-composed performance that will reassure the club’s faithful after some questionable showings in the Gallagher Premiership has seen them rooted to the bottom of the table.
The result ensured Bristol remain undefeated in their European campaign this season and further compounded their position as knock out hopefuls as they sit in third place in Pool, only a point behind Cardiff Rugby and Toulon ahead of them.
Their next Challenge Cup clash will be the reverse of today’s fixture when they travel to the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi to take on Zebre in January as their European adventure continues.
Bristol Bears: 15. Luke Morahan, 14. Deago Bailey, 13. Semi Radradra, 12. Ioan Lloyd, 11. Gabriel Ibitoye, 10. AJ MacGinty, 9. Will Porter, 1. Jake Woolmore, 2. Harry Thacker, 3. Jay Tyack, 4. Joe Batley, 5. Chris Vui, 6. Steven Luatua (c), 7. Jake Heenan, 8. Fitz Harding.
Replacements: 16. Jake Kerr, 17. Yann Thomas, 18. Max Lahiff, 19. Elliott Stooke, 20. Daniel Thomas, 21. Andy Uren, 22. Callum Sheedy, 23. Piers O'Conor.
Zebre Parma: 15. Richard Kriel, 14. Kobus van Wyk, 13. Erich Cronjé (c), 12. Franco Smith, 11. Simone Gesi, 10. Tiff Eden, 9. Ratko Jelic, 1. Juan Pitinari, 2. Marco Manfredi, 3. Ion Neculai, 4. Jan Uys, 5. Andrea Zambonin, 6. Jacopo Bianchi, 7. MJ Pelser, 8. Taina Fox-Matamua.
Replacements: 16. Jacques du Toit, 17. Luca Rizzoli, 18. Matteo Nocera, 19. Leonard Krumov, 20. Matt Kvesic, 21. Nicolò Casilio, 22. Geronimo Prisciantelli, 23. Matteo Moscardi.
Referee: Adrien Marbot (France)
Assistant referees: Evan Urruzmendi (France) and Stéphane Crapoix (France)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (France)
READ MORE:
