Bristol 25-20 Bath: Radradra blow can’t halt Bears revival

BRISTOL cushioned the hammer blow of losing their Fijian superstar, Semi Radradra, for a lengthy period by sneaking a victory over their local rivals.

Following the nail-biting win, Bristol’s director of rugby Pat Lam delivered the crushing news. “Semi will be having a knee operation on Monday for the ligament damage he picked up in the Olympic semi-final and will be out for 16 weeks.”

On the evidence of Bristol’s start to the season, Radradra’s absence is likely to put a huge dent in their chances of emulating last year’s heroics in which they finished top at the end of the regular season.

Bath could easily have made the night a whole lot worse by inflicting a third loss on the Bears but after a promising start, their front five capitulated and ill-discipline cost them dear so it was they who ended up losing their first three games, their worst start since 2005-2006.

However it wasn’t all doom and gloom for them as some of their attacking play was a delight with youngsters Max Ojomoh and Orlando Bailey showing huge promise.

Will Muir also impressed by finishing strongly for two tries but once Sam Underhill and Josh McNally were replaced, the visitors’ pack went into freefall with two yellow cards gifting Bristol the match.

Bristol were headless chickens in the first half. Their lineout malfunctioned, they threw aimless passes and their defence was carved to shreds in the outside channels.

Lam had made eight changes following last week’s thrashing at Wasps but it was not until the second half that Bears showed any continuity with Kyle Sinckler, Steven Luatua and replacement, Jake Kerr, leading the way up front to send the home supporters home happy.

Dummy hand: Steven Luatua scores Bristol’s first try after outfoxing Semesa Rokoduguni

PICTURES: Getty Images

A penalty from Callum Sheedy gave Bristol an early lead but Bath were first to threaten the tryline.

A long pass from Jonathan Joseph sent Tom Ellis flying down the left flank before Charles Piutau hauled the wing down a few metres short of the line. The ball was recycled and Bath looked odds-on to score but Charlie Ewels knocked on.

However, the visitors weren’t to be denied for long as Muir collected a pass from Joseph before breaking Jake Heenan’s tackle to run through the Bears’ defence to score.

Bailey converted and kicked a penalty before Bristol scored their first try when Luatua sold a dummy to Semesa Rokoduguni to race over, but Bath were the more dangerous and deservedly picked up their second try.

From a ruck 15 metres out, Bailey and Tom de Glanville combined neatly before a sweetly-timed pass from Underhill provided Rokoduguni with an easy run-in to give Bath a 15-8 interval lead.

Sheedy’s penalty reduced the arrears but Bath scored their third try when a clever cross-field kick from Bailey resulted in Ojomoh and Muir combining to create a second for Muir.

Bath’s penalty count was becoming astronomical and it eventually proved costly when they conceded a penalty try for collapsing a lineout drive with Ellis yellow carded.

Tom Dunn soon followed his teammate into the bin and Bears immediately capitalised when Kerr crashed over following another unstoppable drive to secure victory.

By ROGER PANTLING

Bristol …………….25pts

Tries: Luatua 30, Penalty 57, Kerr 67

Conversions: Sheedy 67

Penalties: Sheedy 8, 46

BRISTOL: Piutau 7, Lloyd 6, O’Conor 7, Bedlow 5 (Leuia 76, 6), Purdy 6, Sheedy 6, Randall 6 (Uren 60, 6), Y Thomas 8 (Woolmore 72, 6), Capon 5 (Kerr 40, 8), Sinckler 8 (Lahiff 70, 6), Holmes 7, Joyce 7 (D Thomas 56, 6), Vui 7, Luatua (c) 8, Heenan 6

Not used: Harding, Frisch

Bath ………………..20pts

Tries: Muir 18, 52; Rokoduguni 39

Conversions: Bailey 18

Penalties: Bailey 28