Bristol Bears beat Northampton Saints 46-12 at Ashton Gate on Saturday in Round Six of the 2025/26 Gallagher PREM
Bristol Bears’ Benhard Janse van Rensburg in action. (Photo by Bob Bradford – CameraSport via Getty Images)
Bristol Bears propelled themselves back into the play-off conversation with an impressive 46-12 win over the previously unbeaten Northampton Saints on Saturday.
In truth, it was a game which was won by halftime. A 20-minute red card for Northampton winger and Italian international Edoraro Todaro for a dangerous tackle in the air after less than two minutes on the clock was the start of bad things to come for Saints. Tries from Kieran Marmion (2), Tom Jordan, Kalaveti Ravouvou and Aidan Boshoff made the half-time score 35-0, with fly-half Sam Worsley slotting all five of his conversions.
READ MORE: Bristol Bears 46-12 Northampton Saints LIVE: Full highlights and reaction
The second half was a bit quieter from Bristol. Tries from Saints players JJ van der Mescht and Tom Lichfield made the score more respectable for Northampton. But Worsley kicked six more points with his boot and to top it off, Georgian international Luka Ivanishvili scored from a driving maul in the last play of the game.
Bristol, still missing plenty of big hitters with injuries, now sit fifth in the table and are creeping close to those play-off spots.
Rugby writer Harry Papworth takes a closer look at the individual performances from the Bristol Bears players…
15. Tom Jordan – 7
The Scot scored the Bears’ second try in the 9th minute. After many phases from the Bears forwards as they battered away at the line, Marmion eventually gave the ball to his backs and Tom Jordan picked the perfect line to cruise over the whitewash. Jordan went off in the 27th minute for a Head Injury Assessment and didn’t return.
14. Jack Bates – 6
Went off in the 17th minute, replaced by Louis-Rees-Zammit. Bates didn’t see much of the ball in his short cameo but gave a fine pass to release Harry Thacker down the wing in the build-up to Marmion’s second try.
13. Benhard Janse van Rensburg – 9
After signing a new contract with the Bears this week, Van Rensburg proved why he’s one of the best centres in the league. He made a crucial turnover at the breakdown in the 19th minute whilst Saints looked threatening. He then made Bristol’s fourth try as he smashed Fin Smith in a tackle and dislodged the ball, allowing Ravouvou to sprint under the sticks from 45m out. The centre was everywhere throughout, kicking well, tackling, and hitting good lines, a deserved player of the match.
12. James Williams – 9
Making his return in the PREM after a couple of months out, Williams displayed great line speed whilst defending Saints’ set piece, getting up and chop tackling runners. The centre has such a great all-round game. He kicked a pinpoint 50-22, which gave the Bears attacking ball in a threatening position. Slick hands were constantly on display from the centre as he was often an influential link man in tries scored, pulling the ball back to Sam Worsley often throughout. It was an eventful game for the centre, who also won a turnover at the breakdown in the 64th minute.
11. Kalaveti Ravouvou – 8
The Fijian was a great presence under the high ball this evening, catching one in the 7th minute which put the Bears on the front foot. He scored Bristol’s fourth and bonus point try, picking up the ball 50 metres out to go coasting under the sticks with no defenders around him. The applause for that try must go to Van Rensburg, who smashed Fin Smith to dislodge the ball.
10. Sam Worsley – 8
Worsley kicked 7/8 of his kicks at goal. He was taken out in the air in the first minute of the game, which resulted in a 20-minute red card for Saints winger Edoraro Todaro. The next phase, he put in a lovely chip which could have been scored, but the Saints backfield was there to clear up. Great hands and awareness from the playmaker set up the Bears’ fifth for Aidan Boshoff in the corner. Overall, He controlled the game and was at the heart of all things Bears in attack. The 22-year-old is looking like a great fly-half whilst MacGinty is out.
9. Kieran Marmion – 8
The scrum-half scored the first try of the game. A free kick from a scrum five metres out was taken quickly by Marmion, he dummied, stepped, and went straight under the sticks untouched. Ten minutes later, Marmion scored the easiest try he ever will, picking the ball up at the back of a breakdown and placing it on the line with no Saints defence in sight.
1. Jake Woolmore – 7
Woolmore was a massive part in a Bears scrum that absolutely dominated all day. He got through lots of work around the park and was accurate at everything he did until he was replaced in the 44th minute by Max Lahiff.
2. Harry Thacker – 8
Thacker was accurate at the lineout. He made a great run down the line in the 16th minute and nearly got over the try line, but somehow managed to get the ball back for his team-mate Marmion to score.
3. Lovejoy Chawatama – 8
Chawatama was incredible at scrum time, winning the first three scrum penalties of the game. Chawatama was all over his opposite man Emmanuel Iyogun and referee Ian Tempest rewarded the tight-head prop.
4. Pedro Rubiolo – 8
Back from the international break with Argentina, Rubiolo had some powerful touches at the fringes of breakdowns. Rubiolo had some nice moments with the ball, one including a great take from a restart at the start of the second half.
5. Joe Batley – 7
It was a solid game from Batley. He was good at the lineout and around the park, a lot of what we expect by his standards.
6. Santiago Grondona – 8
Another Argentine who is back for the Bears, Grondona, was often seen with his head down in rucks, tackles or mauls, adding his power and grit to every contact point in the game. Overall, it was the physical element which made the Bears dominate and Grondona was at the heart of that.
7. Fitz Harding – 7
The skipper was great in the loose today. Often picking up a loose ball or in support at the breakdown. He worked tirelessly throughout and punched some hole in the Saints defence in attack.
8. Viliame Mata – 7
As always, the Fijian was a primary running threat all game. Mata put in a huge tackle on Rory Hutchinson early in the second-half, displaying his strength and technical ability. It is great to see him back fit and full of running from the international break.
Replacements
16. Tomas Gwilliam – 7.
17. Max Lahiff – 8
Lahiff came on in the 44th minute and made an immediate impact, winning a penalty from a scrum in front of the sticks. Bears decided to take three points, and Worsley was flawless from the tee yet again.
18. Jimmy Halliwell – 7
19. Joe Owen – 7
20. Luka Ivanishvili – 7
Scored in the last play of the game from a driving maul, topping off a wonderful night to be a Bears fan.
21. Sam Wolstenholme – 6
The replacement scrum-half put in some clever little kicks when he came on the pitch early in the second half. But ultimately, the pace of the Bears’ attack slowed down when Marmion came off.
22. Louis Rees-Zammit – 6
On in the 18th minute of the game having been only named on the bench after returning from Wales duties with a few knocks and niggles, the Bears fans erupted as soon as he got the ball in space. This may have happened once or twice in a quiet game for the superstar winger.
23. Aidan Boshoff – 7
On in the first half, Boshoff was straight into the action, sliding over five points in the corner. Great link up from Williams and Worlsey found the space for the winger who made no mistake in finishing it. Almost scored a second try in the second half as well.