So much rain has been falling out west this week that Bristol could almost have floated down to Devon in canoes. Add in more heavy downpours, a tricky wind and a horribly slippery ball and there was never any chance of a free-flowing, fast-paced spectacle between two of the league’s more fluent attacking sides. This was a sodden slog, pure and simple, with only a rainbow or two to add a splash of colour.
Not that the Bears will care much about the trench warfare nature of a victory that consolidates them in third position and above their opponents in the playoff race going into the Prem’s two-month hiatus. On an afternoon demanding character, perseverance and effort the visitors displayed all three, a first-half try from the appropriately named Noah Heward ultimately edging an old-school wrestling match.
