The Bears scored eight tries and put 50 past Bath in their last game before the two-month lay-off and, with a resurgent Harry Randall setting the tone, are now attacking with an elan and panache that is hard to resist.
They were certainly too good for a Saints side that looked very rusty, albeit their England contingent were largely missing. They won't be happy though, this was more like the flaky performances that marred last season.
Bristol made the quickest start with a charge down try by lock Joe Batley after promising England U20 scrum-half Archie McParland took too long over his kick.
McParland, making his first Premiership start, I was greeted with a vicious little sleet storm in the opening minutes and confronted with a hard counter rucking Bristol pack that made life hell for the next 80 minutes.
He was lucky moments later when a pretty cynical looking tackle on
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WE WERE LEFT ON THE BRINK
CHAIRMAN Paul Ayres revealed Thatcham Town briefly discussed the prospect of a second voluntary relegation in ten years having been shunted into the Southern League.
LET'S SEE IF YOU CAN DO BETTER!
STEVE Baines was something of a pioneer.
PREMIER PAIR ARE NO PR STUNTS!
WESTFIELD’S audacious coup in signing former Premier League stars Charlie Daniels and Dan Gosling is ‘no PR stunt’, chairman Jack Stapley has insisted.
A PROUD HUB OF THE COMMUNITY!
‘NEVER did I ever think I would see a pitch invasion at Beverley Town,’ chuckles chairman Mark Smith.
ACE JOE GIVES TONY BOOST
New Rams boss keeps star striker on board
BLAKE KNOWS SHORE THING
ROBBIE Blake has backed Bognor Regis Town’s young bucks to challenge for the Isthmian Premier play-offs next season.
LEVI'S ABOARD WITH BOATMEN
CHELSEA and England star Levi Colwill is to give something back to the club which helped launch his promising career – by joining the board of directors.
TOWN'S PROUD JEWELL IN THE CROWN
WHEN Andy Drury left Stevenage just a month after winning the National League title in 2010, he thought his chance to play in the EFL had gone.
SCOTT HAS BROUGHT NEW GEMS TO REBELS
Davies looking to next batch
JIMMY'S JOY AT TARRYN CAPTURE
ROCHDALE boss Jimmy McNulty says he is delighted to have beaten off tough competition to land highly sought-after winger Tarryn Allarakhia.