- Leicester secured a bonus-point win at Ashton Gate, scoring five tries
- It means they have moved up to second in the Gallagher Premiership
- Bristol took home nothing and drop to third, level on points with the Tigers
Bristol’s brand of all-out attacking rugby has seen them land knock-out blows on many of their Gallagher Premiership rivals already this season.
But here, they punched themselves out with an error-riddled display as Leicester got sweet revenge for the hammering they took by the Bears in December.
This result has significant implications for the play-off race. Bristol’s top-four spot now looks a tad precarious all of a sudden.
Leicester’s five-try win means they have moved into second. Bristol took home nothing here and drop to third, even if they are level on points with the Tigers.
The title run-in looks set to be more than intriguing.
Leicester boss Michael Cheika raged at the decisions of referee Karl Dickson and he seemed on the verge of combusting as Bristol attempted a late comeback.
But his team deserved to win and a bonus point was an added bonus.
Leicester moved up to second in the Gallagher Premiership with an impressive win at Bristol
The Tigers are now above Bristol in the Premiership league table, albeit level on points
SCORERS
Bristol Bears
Tries: Ibitoye, Ravouvou, Randall
Cons: MacGinty (2)
Leicester Tigers
Tries: Radwan, Hassell-Collins, Van Poortvliet, Steward, Henderson
Cons: Pollard (3), Shillcock
Pen: Pollard
Referee: Karl Dickson (RFU) Attendance: 16,012
Star man: Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers)
‘We were really poor when Bristol came to us and we really did want to turn it around,’ said Cheika, who is departing at the end of the season.
‘All the games in the run-in are finals. It’s like the group stage of a World Cup.’
The rewards and perils that come with Bristol’s adventurous approach were summed up perfectly in the first half.
Kalaveti Ravouvou’s outrageous offload set-up Gabs Ibitoye.
But then when Ibitoye tried a one-handed, basketball-style pass in midfield, all he did was gift a score to Leicester wing Ollie Hassell-Collins.
If you live by the sword, you have to be prepared to die by it too.
That is what happened to Bristol on this occasion.
Ravouvou’s moment of brilliance was so good even his team-mate Harry Randall held his hands on his head in astonishment.
But otherwise, Bristol’s handling wasn’t on point. Leicester backs Adam Radwan and Jack van Poortvliet scored either side of Hassell-Collins’ walk-in.
Bristol also weren’t helped by a wobbly line-out.
Pat Lam subbed hooker Gabriel Oghre in a first half which also saw Leicester’s England prop Joe Heyes yellow carded.
Ravouvou and Randall both scored Bristol tries after the break, but Freddie Steward crossed for Leicester’s crucial fourth.
Bristol’s Kalaveti Ravouvou (right) scored one and made another with an outrageous assist
Freddie Steward scored Leicester’s crucial fourth try as they took home five points
The way Steward ghosted around the Bears defence would have pleased Steve Borthwick as the England coach has wanted to see that in his game.
‘What the f*** is going on?’ screamed Cheika as the game hotted up and Solomone Kata followed Heyes in being yellow carded for head contact.
Cameron Henderson made the game safe for Leicester, who impressed with their defence and work on the ground.
‘We’re disappointed. We were pretty sloppy in the first half. We conceded three soft tries. We struggled in the line-out and for quick ball,’ said Bristol director of rugby Lam.
‘When we’re messy, we’re average. It wasn’t a great day. We’ve got four games to go and it’s going to be a frenetic finish.
‘Everyone is gutted, but we’ve got to dust ourselves off.’
Share or comment on this article:
Bristol 19-36 Leicester: Bears punch themselves out as Michael Cheika’s Tigers overtake them in second place