All the build-up, team news, live play-by-play match updates, reaction, analysis, stats and highlights from Mattioli Woods Welford Road
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- Updated17:13, 21 DEC 2024
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It's game day.
Bristol Bears return to Gallagher Premiership action on Saturday with a trip to Mattioli Woods Welford Road to take on Leicester Tigers in Round Eight.
The Bears head into the game following back-to-back defeats to two European giants in the Champions Cup, going down 12-35 to Leinster at Ashton Gate and then losing 35-7 away at La Rochelle, but Pat Lam's side are flying high in the Premiership, going into the weekend sitting in second place in the table, just one point behind leaders Bath.
Michael Cheika has also transformed Leicester Tigers back into serious top four contenders since arriving in the summer with the East Midlands side currently sat third in the standings. Tigers also come into the match off the back of a 56-17 thumping of an understrength Hollywoodbet Sharks side in the Champions Cup.
The game kicks off at 3.05pm on Saturday afternoon.
Follow all the build-up, team news, live play-by-play match updates, reaction, stats, analysis and highlights from Welford Road with regular updates below...
17:13 - Reaction from Bristol Bears director of rugby Pat Lam
Lam said:
I was particularly pleased with the second half defensive display.
Obviously scoring 50 points at Welford Road is huge for us.
Attack is in our DNA but it was great to see the defensive effort as well.
It looked like our training today, I don't believe in attack and defence sessions in training, it is about rugby sessions.
My message early on after we messed up the first three attacks is don't go into your shells because it is on if we can execute the skills.
17:07 - Official player of the match
Benhard Janse van Rensburg gets the gong from TNT Sports yet again.
How many has he had in Bears colours now?
17:06 - Stay tuned
Full reaction to follow...
17:06 - FULL TIME - Leicester Tigers 24 Bristol Bears 54
What an unbelievable result for Bristol Bears who extend their stunning away record and go top of the table, at least until the end of Bath's game away at Newcastle Falcons tonight.
24-54
80+3 minsKEY EVENT
TRY - Leicester Tigers - 24-54
One more shot for Leicester
Harry Thacker is pinged for not releasing as he makes a tackle and gets back to his feet looking for a turnover.
Leicester kick to the corner and eventually get over to at least claim a losing bonus point from the game with Josh Bassett touching down.
The conversion by Jamie Shillcock is missed.
24-54
79 minsJohn Evely
Forward pass
Bristol make yet another line break through Kalaveti Ravouvou who releases Rich Lane down the left wing.
The full back looks to launch an ambitious wide pass back inside to Harry Thacker but the ball strays forward.
19-54
77 minsJohn Evely
Bristol looking to deny the bonus point
Bristol are desperate to prevent Leicester from getting anything from this game as they chase a fourth try for the attacking bonus point and the visitors come up with a turnover close to their line to help their cause in that regard.
19-54
72 minsKEY EVENT
TRY - Bristol Bears - 19-54
That is eight!
Bristol turn their outstanding defensive resolve inside their 22 with a try 90m down the other end of the pitch. The ball is knocked on by Tigers and Kieran Marmion works the ball to Kalaveti Ravouvou who splits two defenders and goes the distance.
The Fijian has top end speed having played on the wing for his country.
Sam Worsley converts to make it the most points Leicester Tigers have ever conceded, home or away, in the Gallagher Premiership. Wow.
19-54
69 minsJohn Evely
Big stop from 5m out
Bristol's defence of the Leicester maul has been outstanding today and again the hosts are unable to make any ground.
Julián Montoya breaks off blind by himself and gets isolated allowing the Bears to win a jackal penalty.
19-47
68 minsJohn Evely
Big defensive effort
Bristol Bears hold out for 19 phases of attack from Leicester Tigers but there isn't much invention from the hosts.
Eventually, Fitz Harding gets penalised for hands in the ruck as he tries to win a turnover.
Leicester kick to the corner.
19-47
64 minsJohn Evely
A Premiership debut
Bristol's loan signing Jamie Hodgson comes on for his Premiership debut as Steven Luatua makes way.
Pat Lam says it is also job done for Harry Randall and Gabriel Ibitoye who are replaced by Kieran Marmion and. Benjamin Elizalde.
19-47
60 minsKEY EVENT
TRY - Bristol Bears - 19-47
That try is a gift, but the Bears earned it with some magnificent defensive pressure.
Leicester think about running from deep in their own 22 and work the ball wide to Ollie Hassell-Collins but he runs out of room and opts to kick but Benhard Janse van Rensburg charges the ball down and regathers to touch down.
Sam Worsley converts.
19-47
57 minsJohn Evely
Bad error from Tigers
Leicester are on the attack from a lineout 25m out.
It is a great platform. But replacement scrum half Jack van Poortvliet is forced to send a pass forward as Solomone Kata has over run his line.
Bristol get the ball back at a scrum.
The sin bin clock is ticking down.
19-40
54 minsJohn Evely
Big maul defence
Leicester look to catch and drive from 5m out but the maul defence from Bristol is outstanding with James Dun coming through the middle to wrap up the ball and earn his side a put in at the scrum 5m out from their own line.
That is a big stop playing a man down.
19-40
50 minsKEY EVENT
TRY - Leicester Tigers - 19-40
Freddie Steward is over for Leicester.
That is a strange old try.
Cameron Henderson is stopped short of the line but the ball squirts out the back of the ruck and the full back is on hand to pick up and flop over the tryline. The score is given after a TMO review.
Handre Pollard converts.
19-40
50 minsKEY EVENT
YELLOW CARD - Bristol Bears - 12-40
Hamis Smales sin bins Gabriel Oghre for an offence close to the line.
He had just warned the Bears following a couple of penalties against Bristol, but it seems a bit harsh.
12-40
47 mins John Evely
A desperate jackal penalty
Sam Worsley attacks down the left hand tram lines and backs his pace on the outside.
He throws an offload to Harry Randall who puts all his running training into practice to burst down-field, eating up 40m to get to the edge of the Leicester 22.
He offloads to James Dun who moves the ball to Steven Luatua, but Tigers scramble back well and Tommy Reffell gets his hands on the ball in the jackal at the ruck to win a try-saving penalty.
12-40
44 minsJohn Evely
What a pass!
Sam Worsley shows his ball playing skills as he arcs a perfectly weighted miss pass into the arms of Gabriel Ibitoye who breaks away.
12-40
43 minsJohn Evely
Scrum penalty
Leicester get something to build on as they win a penalty against the head at a scrum.
Ellis Genge looks disgusted with the call.
12-40
16:12 - SECOND HALF KICKS OFF
Sam Worlsey gets the second half underway for Bristol Bears.
What will the next 40 minutes have in store for us?
12-40
16:01 - Match action
15:57 - HALF TIME - Leicester Tigers 12 Bristol Bears 40
I have never seen a half like it, and neither has anyone else as Bristol Bears score more points than ever before in the Premiership in the first half, crossing for six tries from six visits to the Leicester Tigers 22.
The attacking rugby has been simply spectacular, the only black spot is a worrying injury for Bristol fly-half AJ MacGinty.
12-40
40+1 minsKEY EVENT
TRY - Bristol Bears - 12-40
Gabriel Oghre throws to Steven Luatua at a lineout 8m out.
The maul is set but is brought to ground.
Gabriel Oghre takes off and goes close.
The backs take over and the ball is spread through the hands with Rich Lane releasing Gabriel Ibitoye to score out wide.
That was silky smooth hands from the blistering Bears.
Sam Worsley pushes the conversion attempt across the face of the posts.
12-40
39 minsJohn Evely
Big let off
Leicester win a penalty near halfway after Gabriel Oghre is harshly penalised for not rolling away.
But Handre Pollard has missed touch as he goes for broke, putting it out over the tryline.
12-35
38 minsJohn Evely
TNT come up with a great stat
This is the most points Bristol have ever scored in the Premiership in a first half.
12-35
35 minsKEY EVENT
TRY - Bristol Bears - 12-35
Sensational!
Bristol Bears go 98m to score.
The visitors turn the ball over close to their try line after a knock on and move it wide, breaking through Kalaveti Ravouvou who links with Gabriel Ibitoye. The winger puts a pass over the top of a Leicester defender and Rich Lane take the ball one handed, juggling it before gathering and speeding in from 50m out.
That is a stunner.
Sam Worsley converts.
12-35
30 minsKEY EVENT
TRY - Bristol Bears - 12-28
The Bears have their bonus point try.
Bristol's Fijian's combine to produce some magic.
Kalaveti Ravouvou is having one of his best games for the club and he is the creator as he dances through the Leicester defence to break the line and then speeds away, getting cut down just short of the line.
The Bears are patient and Harry Randall hits Bill Mata on the burst and the huge number eight blasts over the line.
Sam Worsley converts.
12-28
28 minsJohn Evely
Serious injury concern for Bristol
AJ MacGinty is off with a knee injury.
The USA star can't put his weight on the joint and goes off with his arms around the shoulder of two medical staff.
Sam Worsley is on at 10.
21-21
27 minsJohn Evely
Big counter ruck
Bristol manage to hold out against Tigers' maul after they look to catch and drive over.
The ball comes out to the backs and Freddie Steward takes it on, but he is hit by three Bristol defenders who then release and fire through the ruck to make a mess of it.
Gabriel Oghre comes up with the ball and the Bears can clear.
12-21
25 minsJohn Evely
Blocking
George Kloska is away through a gap with so much room in front of him, but referee Hamish Smales says there was blocking to make room for the Bears tighthead.
The result is a scrum and Tiger kick to the corner.
12-21