Bristol Bears’ young guns brought the curtain down on the first block of Premiership Rugby Cup pool games with a workmanlike 40-15 win over Ampthill.
Playing in the pouring rain as Storm Bert swirled around Ashton Gate, the Bears scored six tries through Harry Rowson, Will Capon, Yann Thomas, Oscar Lennon, Aidan Boshoff and were awarded a penalty try, with fly-half Sam Worlsey kicking four of his five shots at the posts.
Ampthill grew into the contest and even won the second half with tries from winger Kerr Johnston and replacement tighthead prop James Johnston, along with a conversion and penalty from the boot of their captain Josh Barton.
The bonus point win leaves Bristol second behind Bath in Pool D, but currently out of the qualifying spots due to an inferior points difference, however there are three more games during the Six Nations period to improve that situation. With just a five day turned around to Friday night’s trip to Harlequins in the Premiership, Pat Lam rested his entire first-team squad for Sunday’s game, using 14 players either in or from the club’s academy.
Ampthill took the lead with their first visit into the Bristol half after Benjamin Elizalde lost control of the ball and the hosts then conceded a penalty which former Saracens academy 10 Barton knocked over from 40m out.
That sparked a reply from Bristol who scored a try in the corner through Rowson, who hugged the touchline to take a flat pass from Argentine Benjamin Elizalde and touch down in the corner.
With the wet and wild conditions deteriorating, Bristol’s young side showed maturity in playing lower-risk rugby than their normal flamboyant game and used their superior power to get the job done with Capon touching down at the back of a maul following a drive from a 5m lineout, and then skipper Thomas used his bulk to barge over from close-range following a 5m tap penalty.
The home forwards were also the source of Bristol’s fourth try as the home pack drove an unorthodox stretched-out driving maul about 15m to get within a metre of the line before Ampthill tighthead prop Callum Norrie came in illegally from the side to stop their progress, but his actions earned a yellow card and referee Mike Hudson awarded a penalty try.
The Bears took less than two minutes to punish the 14 men of Ampthill with Joe Jenkins shrugging off a tackle midway in the opposition half before carrying, drawing the final defender and feeding Lennon who cleverly used the soaking turf to slide in from 5m out to avoid being tackled.
The half came to a close with a missed dropped goal attempt from Ampthill fly-half Barton with his side unable to find any way through the Bears’ watertight defence.
Ampthill were much improved in the second half and had much more possession and territory which led to Benjamin Grondona earning a yellow card for repeat team offences as the Bears defended their line. Playing a man up, Ampthill moved the ball wide and exploited a mismatch with towering winger Johnston evading the tackle of Worsley to score in the corner.
The Bears added a sixth try eight minutes from time as Lennon arced a wide pass to replacement winger Boshoff who took the ball above his head before touching down near the corner flag.
But the visitors had the final say with veteran prop James Johnston powering over from close range following a lineout in the Bears 22. Barton’s excellent wide conversion brought the game to a close.
Bristol Bears: 15. Benjamin Elizalde, 14. Siva Naulago, 13. Harry Rowson, 12. Joe Jenkins, 11. Toby Fricker, 10. Sam Worsley, 9. Oscar Lennon; 1. Yann Thomas ©, 2. Will Capon, 3. Lovejoy Chawatama, 4. Kenzie Jenkins, 5. Paddy Pearce, 6. Aaron Tull, 7. Ed Timpson, 8. Benjamin Grondona
Replacements: 16. Tom Doughty, 17. Louie Trevett, 18. Jimmy Halliwell, 19. Ethan Surrey, 20. Tomas Gwilliam, 21. Sam Edwards, 22.Gethin O’Callaghan, 23. Aidan Boshoff
Ampthill: 15. Fin Parker, 14. Kerr Johnston, 13. Byron Sharwood, 12. Sione Va’enuku, 11. Vereimi Qorowale, 10. Josh Barton (c), 9. Rory Morgan; 1 Harrison Courtney, 2. Luke Thompson, 3. Callum Norrie, 4. Jake Parkinson, 5. Aidan King, 6. Karl Main, 7. Charles Rylands (vc), 8. Lekima Ravuvu.
Replacements: 16 Syd Blackmore, 17. Richard Barrington, 18. James Johnston, 19. Oskar Hicks, 20. Arthur Thomas, 21. Charlie West, 22. Declan Murphy, 23. Evan Mitchell
Referee: Mike Hudson
Assistant referees: Iain Kiy and James Piddington