Bears on top but Bath go through

BRISTOL looked the stronger side on paper and so it eventually the bonus-point win still wasn't enough for them to secure a place in the knockout stages proved but Bears were left to rue a 78-19 hammering at the Rec and a surprise defeat at Bedford which left them with too much to do on the final weekend of the competition.

- By ROGER PANTING

In contrast, luck went Bath's way as they secured a home quarter-final as their points' differential was better than Harlequins, who they will now meet at the Rec in a fortnight's time.

Bath's academy coach, Andy Robinson, said: "We are delighted to get a home quarter-final as that was our objective but tiredness coming from our great defensive effort in the first half cost us in the latter stages.

"We turned ball over too easily around halfway and that gave Bristol the opportunity to execute their power game."

Having scored three tries in the first 17 minutes, it didn't look likely that Bath would take nothing from the game but ill-discipline and the dominance of the Bears' pack in the set areas took the game away from them.