Semi Radradra added to his legacy at Bristol Bears as he signed off with a brace of tries in a hard-fought 36-21 win over local rivals Gloucester Rugby on Saturday.
But the heroics of the Fijian, playing only half-fit after just winning a race against time to return from a hamstring injury to make one last appearance at Ashton Gate before joining Lyon next season, were not enough to secure Heineken Champions Cup rugby for Bristol as they were pipped by Bath on points’ difference.
The bonus-point victory was not enough for the Bears to stay in eighth place in the final Gallagher Premiership table as Bath’s winning margin over Saracens proved crucial.
Radradra was joined on the scoresheet by Naulago, Magnus Bradbury and Harry Thacker - touching down on his 100th appearance for the club, with A.J. MacGinty adding four conversions and a penalty.
Ollie Thorley and Jonny May scored Gloucester’s tries and there was also a penalty try awarded in the final minute, with Adam Hastings and Billy Twelvetrees each adding a conversion.
Thacker was instrumental in his side taking the lead in the 10th minute. He was at the forefront of a line-out drive which took Bears to within a metre of the visitors’ line from where Harry Randall sent Naulago over.
Five minutes later, the home side repeated the dose with Thacker the try-scorer this time. It was his 11th try of the season to equal David Lemi’s Premiership record for Bristol.
A second touchline conversion from MacGinty gave Bristol a 14-0 lead at the end of the opening 15 minutes, which they had dominated.
Gloucester needed a quick response and they got one when skilful passing from their backs created the space for Thorley to round the last defender and score.
Hastings converted but a straightforward penalty from MacGinty extended the hosts’ lead.
Bristol continued to have the better of territory and possession but their opponents were dangerous on the counter-attack, with Seb Atkinson, Stephen Varney and Thorley all coming close to reducing the arrears.
Bears suffered a blow when their influential number eight Fitz Harding departed with an injury but they still led 17-7 at the interval.
Eight minutes after the restart, Harding’s replacement, Bradbury, was up in support of a potent attack from his three-quarters to score Bears’ third try.
Bristol knew they were likely to need a bonus-point victory so turned down a simple kick at goal in favour of an attacking line-out. However, it did not go to plan as Gloucester stole it.
It mattered little as, within minutes, Radradra had brushed aside two would-be tacklers to crash over and the home side could rest a little easier.
However, spirited Gloucester would not lie down and a break from Chris Harris saw May run in from the halfway line, but Radradra joined a driving line-out to give Bristol hope that the European place would be theirs.
But it was not to be Ollie Lawrence scored a late try for Bath in a 61-29 victory over a second-string Saracens to give the Bears' derby rivals a superior points advantage almost simultaneously with referee Wayne Barnes awarding a late penalty try at Ashton Gate for a deliberate knock-on by the departing Charles Piutau.
Both Bristol and Gloucester will now compete in the European Challenge Cup in 2023/24.
Bristol Bears: 15. Charles Piutau, 14. Siva Naulago, 13. Semi Radradra, 12. James Williams, 11. Ioan Lloyd, 10. AJ MacGinty, 9. Harry Randall; 1. Yann Thomas, 2. Harry Thacker, 3. Kyle Sinckler, 4. Joe Batley, 5. Chris Vui, 6. Steven Luatua, 7. Sam Jeffries, 8. Fitz Harding
Replacements: 16. Will Capon, 17. Jake Woolmore, 18. Max Lahiff, 19. Magnus Bradbury, 20. Jake Heenan, 21. Andy Uren, 22. Sam Bedlow, 23. Piers O’Conor
Gloucester Rugby: 15. Santi Carreras, 14. Jonny May, 13. Chris Harris, 12. Seb Atkinson, 11. Ollie Thorley, 10 Adam Hastings, 9. Stephen Varney; 1. Mayco Vivas, 2. George McGuigan, 3. Kirill Gotovtsev, 4. Freddie Clarke, 5. Matias Alemanno, 6. Jack Clement, 7. Lewis Ludlow, 8. Ben Morgan
Replacements: 16. Seb Blake, 17. Val Rapava-Ruskin, 18. Jamal Ford-Robinson, 19. Cam Jordan, 20. Freddie Thomas, 21. Ben Meehan, 22. Billy Twelvetrees, 23. Alex Hearle.
Referee: Wayne Barnes (272nd Premiership game).
Assistant Referees: Karl Dickson and Andrew Jackson. TMO: Rowan Kitt.
Citing Officer: John Byett.
