It was the highest-scoring game of the Premiership season by a country mile, and if you want to reel off the names of all 14 try-scorers then be prepared to take a very big breath indeed.
In truth, it was breathless throughout. And how Bristol managed to hold on despite conceding almost 20 penalties will remain unfathomable long after the West Country derby dust has settled.
Following an ignominious exit from Europe, and an underwhelming Premiership season so far, this encounter had a must-win feel for the Bears – and director of rugby Pat Lam. And the orders from the very top – chairman Steve Lansdown – were for Bristol to go for all-out attack with ball in hand.
“Steve had a quiet word with me and said he wanted us to go back to the Bears way and for us to be exciting – he’s not too keen on the kicking – and I think he is happy and excited now,” said Lam after his men just managed to repel a late Bath rally.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة January 28, 2024 من The Rugby Paper.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة January 28, 2024 من The Rugby Paper.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Crusaders stun Blues to keep season alive
CRUSADERS salvaged some dignity in their torrid Super Rugby Pacific campaign with a shock 29-27 win over league leaders and fierce rivals the Blues.
Resting players for big games isn't on
IT WAS just a couple of weeks ago that certain people were up in arms because the South African clubs had fielded weaker teams rather than their full strength sides in away games during the Champions Cup.
Calcutta Cup win the highlight of my career
I WAS sat on a mattress on the floor of Alex Lewington’s flat in Twickenham waiting for the rest of my stuff to come out of storage when Gregor Townsend rang me out of the blue to say I was in the Scotland squad for the 2020 Six Nations.
Barnes hits four in nine-try rout
HAMPSHIRE ran in nine tries to thrash Surrey and kick-start their campaign with Curtis Barnes crossing for four.
Saracens hold on to take it at the death
SARACENS held their nerve to secure a home semi-final and put an end to Gloucester-Hartpury unbeaten season.
Day O'Reilly missed out on Hollywood
WHEN he last spoke in public, at his old Dublin rugby club a few hefty punts from the church where they held his funeral mass on Thursday, Tony O’Reilly summed up his extraordinary life in one sentence:
Diamond out to add some steel
EVEN someone without Steve Diamond’s coaching experience would have known that taking over at Newcastle was never going to turn them into an overnight sensation.
Champion Trailfinders cut Blues to shreds
EALING celebrated their Championship triumph with a nine-try trouncing of fourth-placed Bedford to finish seven points clear at the top of the table.
Toulouse provide a lesson in brilliance
THERE have been some extraordinary Champions Cup finals over the decades but none better than this titanic clash for the ages which saw Toulouse pull away in extra-time to claim their sixth title.
We can beat anyone now says stoked up Matavesi
SAM Matavesi knew something had changed when he joined up with Northampton after Fiji’s World Cup quarter-final exit last autumn.