Bristol Bears rallied in the second half to beat Zebre Parma 34-11 at the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi on Saturday night in their third pool stage game of the 2022/23 European Challenge Cup
Hooker Harry Thacker scored a hat-trick of tries and was joined on the scoresheet by Ioan Lloyd, Fitz Harding, Magnus Bradbury while Callum Sheedy converted two of the conversions for a 34-11 victory.
Zebre crossed the line through winger Simone Gesi while former Bears fly-half Tiff Eden kicked a pair of penalties.
South West rugby writer John Evely takes a closer look at the individual performances of the Bristol Bears players at the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi.
15. Henry Purdy - 4
The latest man to play full back for the Bears had a bit of a nightmare under the high ball as he knocked on a couple of kicks in the first half. Moved to the wing in a reshuffle in the second half where he showed glimpses of his attacking threat.
14. Toby Fricker - 6
The winger made impressive yards after the contract as he used all of his power and doggedness to make the most of his few opportunities in the first half. He was replaced at half time.
13. Semi Radradra - 5
The Fijian was largely reduced to a defensive role as he was given very few chances to attack in the first half in a Bears backline which was really lacking a spark.
He left the field with a cut above his eye minutes into the second half.
12. Ioan Lloyd - 6
The Welshman sprayed a couple of nice passes and was physical in defence as he looked more assured in the centres. He was on the spot to take the offload back inside from Naulago to score.
11. Siva Naulago - 8
Playing in his first game of the season after recovering from surgery last spring and then a hamstring tear, the Fijian showed moments of the devastating attacking threat the Bears have been missing in his absence. His offloads directly led to tries for Lloyd and Bradbury and he led the way in attacking metres made with 118.
10. Callum Sheedy - 5
The Welsh international had a scrappy game as he was repeatedly penalised for not releasing the ball in the first half and once the Bears’ attacking structure broke down after a couple of phases he seemed to panic. Just two from six off the tee.
9. Harry Randall - 7
Making his return from a horror hamstring injury in the Autumn the scrum half walked away with the player of the match award as he set a high tempo that saw the Bears to victory, setting up Thacker’s first try with a break down the blindside.
1. Ellis Genge - 7
The English international captained the side for the first time from the start and had his work cut out trying to win around referee Luc Ramos who was quick on the whistle against the Bears in the first half.
He provided muscle all game as the maul was the deadliest weapon to beat Zebre with.
2. Harry Thacker - 7
The hooker scored a hat-trick of tries all of which came from mauls following lineouts, although the first was after Randall broke down the blindside before feeding Thacker to score.
You would expect a man scoring a hat-trick to get a higher score but the lineout malfunctioned several times in the first half with throws sailing over the intended target.
3. Kyle Sinckler - 6
The prop was solid in the scrum although there were some problems with early engagements. A couple of meaty carries with the ball in hand.
4. Joe Joyce - 6
Close to an interception which could have led to a try early on.
5. Chris Vui - 6
The Samoan came into the game as it progressed as he used his footwork to get Bristol on the front foot.
6. Magnus Bradbury - 7
The Scottish international scored a superb individual try with the last play of the game as he took an offload from Naulago, bumped off the first attempted tackle and then powered over the line.
7. Jake Heenan - 6
Part of Bristol’s problem in the first half was they failed to secure their own ball at the breakdown as Zebre competed hard and were rewarded for it. While it is every players’ job to secure ruck ball it is the very top priority of every flanker and has been a problem area for the Bears this season.
8. Fitz Harding - 7
The number eight scored an explosive try as he managed to escape the home defence the second he landed at the tail of a Bristol lineout 5m out.
Replacements:
16. Fred Davies - N/A
17. Yann Thomas - N/A
18. Max Lahiff - 7
19. Joe Batley - 7
20. Daniel Thomas - 6
21. Andy Uren - N/A
22. James Williams - 8
23. Jack Bates - 7
