Columnist Pete Brealey is the co-host of Bears Beyond the Gate, a Bristol Bears podcastBenhard Janes van Rensburg of Bristol Bears makes a break past Tom de Glanville of Bath Rugby (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

It has been an up and down season at Ashton Gate, but the final home game certainly did not disappoint. The Bears knew what they had to do and, despite a shaky little ten minutes in the second half, made rugby hay whilst the sun shined. After missing out on the play-offs by a whisker last season the boys made sure that fans were rewarded this time round even though it will mean a tough assignment next Friday night at them down the road [Bath].

There was an intensity to the Bears’ game that created the platform for the backs to express themselves and with the likes of Joe Batley, Santi Grondona, Bill Mata and new boy Pedro Rubiolo showing some real grunt in the pack I’m pretty sure that Bath will spend the week looking nervously at the target on their back.

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If Bristol can keep Saturday’s momentum going and strive to get parity up front then who knows what might happen? The Rec has been a reasonably happy hunting ground in recent times and even when we have lost it has always been close. Pat will no doubt be replaying the victory earlier in the season and challenging the lads to get the Blackbird sung in the centre circle come Friday night.

I bought a Premiership final ticket on a whim when we ran riot at Leicester in November but then almost ripped it up after we got nilled by Sale in the nightmare after Christmas. With a fair wind and bit of luck it may turn out to be one of the purchases of the season!

That said, this might be our best chance of winning the elusive Premiership title given that our retained list for next year is very much on the slim side. The powers that be at Bristol Sport have continued to cut the cloth accordingly and there will be a clear focus on challenging younger members of the squad to go shoulder to shoulder with the more experienced players next season. Hopefully, the game on Saturday will inspire them and if and when they are needed, they will step and wear the jersey with pride.

For now though, all eyes are on the A4 and the hope that the lads can keep driving on towards Twickenham and rugby destiny!

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