Leicester deliver a big blow to Bristol's bid for the play-offs

BRISTOL Bears' play-off hopes were dealt a blow yesterday as Leicester Tigers produced a masterful defensive performance to win 36-19 at Ashton Gate.

- John Evely reports on Bristol's defeat to Leicester at Ashton Gate

Bristol got nothing from the match as they crossed the tryline just three times through Gabriel Ibitoye, Kalaveti Ravouvou and Harry Randall, with AJ MacGinty converting twice. The squandered line breaks from Bristol and a series of gifts for Leicester, who scored tries through Adam Radwan, Ollie Hassell-Collins, Jack van Poortvliet, Freddie Steward and Cameron Henderson, saw the visitors leapfrog the Bears into second place in the table, with Pat Lam's side dropping down to third to put them in the dogfight for the play-off places.

Bristol were hit by a series of late changes ahead of kick off, with lock Joe Batley forced to withdraw having been named in the side after a three month injury lay-off. Wing Jake Bates and centre James Williams also suffered minor injuries in the club's final training session of the week to cause disruption in the ranks ahead of kick-off.

However, the Bears were bolstered by the return of USA international AJ MacGinty at fly-half, making his first start since December, with X-factor wing Gabriel Ibitoye also back from a three-month injury absence with hamstring and calf issues.