Gloucester Rugby won 38-31 in the Premiership Rugby Cup on Saturday to go top of Pool One but the hosts made hard work of it at Kingsholm against arguably a third-string Bristol Bears side.
With both teams missing an array of world-class stars due to the Autumn internationals and injuries, and with Bristol further impacted with Pat Lam having put out his strongest possible 23 for the 26-18 victory over South Africa A on Thursday night, the home side were on top throughout at Kingsholm with new centre signing Seb Atkinson and number eight Jake Polledri prominent.
The former Italy international, who actually came through the Bristol academy before moving up the road, continues on his return from what was feared to be a potentially career-ending knee and leg injury two years ago.
