Bristol Bears player ratings from Exeter Chiefs defeat - 'Made it too easy'

Bristol Bears lost 46-35 to Exeter Chiefs in round seven of the PREM Rugby Cup as they remain at the bottom of pool A

Tries from Exeter’s Campbell Ridl (2), Dan John and Max Norey meant Bristol went 22-0 down in the first half before Joe Owen managed to score a great solo try to finish the first half 22-7.

Tries from Max Pepper, Rich Lane, Tomas Gwilliam and Sam Worsley in the second half meant that Bristol did get a losing bonus point. Exeter winger Ridl got his third try in the second half to cap off a fabulous display of finishing. Max Norey got himself a second try, Paul Brown-Bampoe scored off the bench, and Lewis Pearson scored Exeter’s last in an entertaining affair.

Exeter are now second in the pool, just one point behind leaders Gloucester, whereas Bristol are at the other end of the table at the bottom with no chance of making the semi-finals.

Rugby writer Harry Papworth takes a closer look at the individual displays from the Bristol Bears players…

15 Rich Lane – 5

The third try for Bristol was scored by Lane as he straightened up and received a pass from Pepper five metres out. Lane threatened the Chiefs’ defensive line on numerous occasions in the backfield, once when he chipped and regathered. However, Lane missed two tackles on Ridl, leading to two tries from the Exeter winger. It was poor defence from Lane as he made it far too easy for Ridl.

14 Jack Bates – 6

Bates looked dangerous when he had a few yards of space to work with. The winger went for a ball in the air dangerously early in the second half and was lucky not to see yellow, but did concede a penalty. He went off for an HIA after the collision.

13 Benjamin Elizalde – 6

The Argentine made some effective chop tackles throughout the game, but we didn’t see much of his ball-carrying ability barring one break on the outside and pass to Bates.

12 James Williams – 6

Williams had a slow start to the game, kicking the ball out on the full, allowing Exeter good field position, from which they eventually scored through Chiefs winger Campbell Ridl. Williams did have success in his carries and often when offloading.

11 Gabriel Ibitoye – 6

Ibitoye was hungry for space, which never came his way; he often had adventures cutting in from his wing, but straightened up eventually and carried decently. Sometimes it looked like he was not on the same page as his teammates, but he looked sharper than last week having been sidelined with his hamstring injury for five months.

10 Sam Worsley – 7

Worsley’s boot wasn’t quite firing in the early stages, kicking the ball out on the full from kick off in the 12th minute, meaning Bears were under even more pressure from Exeter. Worsley did score the last try for Bristol, putting the ball under his jumper and crashing into the corner. He was 5/5 from the kicking tee which did keep Bristol in the game for most of it.

9 Max Pepper – 7

Pepper ran a classic scrum-half support line to see himself get over the try line after a few juggles to catch the ball. When Bristol had the ball Pepper’s service was decent. Pepper was also crucial in the making of Rich Lane’s try as he broke through and passed to the full-back.

1 Louie Trevett – 5

Bristol’s scrum was not up to standard today; they were put under lots of pressure by the Chiefs, and the scrum crumbled in the first half. He carried well before he was replaced in the 48th minute.

2 Harry Thacker – 6

Captaining the side today, Thacker did a respectable job around the park, but nothing exceptional by his standards.

3 Jimmy Halliwell – 6

Halliwell got put under lots of pressure at scrum time from Will Goodrick-Clarke, conceding a penalty in the 9th minute of the match and again in the 17th. The tighthead prop did make a few good carries, earning well-deserved yards in the midfield.

4 James Dun – 6

Had a good start to the game, making a nuisance of himself in defensive line-outs and regaining possession. Dun made plenty of big tackles, one where he charged out of the line and thumped into a Chiefs forward.

5 Steele Barker – 6

Barker worked tirelessly throughout and was often in the breakdown securing ball for his side and charging down the opposition’s scrum-half. A solid game.

6 Joe Owen – 8

Owen scored Bristol’s first try just before half-time. He regathered a bouncing ball and charged from halfway, dummying the fullback and crossing the line. It was the sort of finish you expect from a winger, not a flanker! As we have come to expect, Owen was great defensively, setting the tempo for the Bears’ line speed and making great tackles when there. Lots of his good work came at the lineout, which Bristol dominated.

7 George Taylor – 8

It was clear to see Taylor’s hunger to make a big tackle, which he was successful with on occasion. His hands let him down once as he dropped a lovely-looking offload from Worsley. Taylor got a great steal at the lineout in the 37th minute and was great in the air all game. He assisted Bristol’s second try as he received an offload and executed a 2 on 1 to see his team-mate Max Pepper score. His best display for the club.

8 Benjamin Grondona – N/A

Grondona went off for a head injury assessment in the 21st minute of the game and did not return.

Replacements

16 Tomas Gwilliam – 7

Gwilliam scored a classic hookers try at the back of a strong driving maul to secure Bristol’s bonus point.

17 Sam Grahamslaw – 6

18 Sam Scott – 6

19 Ethan Surrey – 6

20 John Edwards – 6

21 Sam Wolstenholme – 6

22 Joe Jenkins – 6

It was a long-awaited return for Jenkins after he suffered a hamstring injury in October, and he came on in the 62nd minute. He made a good burst late into the game which led to Sam Worsley’s try.

23 Ollie Harris – 5

Bristol Bears player ratings from Exeter Chiefs defeat – ‘Made it too easy’

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