Bristol Bears cemented their place in the top four of the Gallagher Premiership after the first block of games with a 31-23 home win over Northampton Saints on Friday night.
A slow start saw the Bears go 15 points behind after an early penalty from George Makepeace-Cubitt and tries from George Hendy and Josh Kemeny. But the Bears roared back with tries from Gabriel Ibitoye and Kalaveti Ravouvou before the break before Makepeace-Cubitt added another three points to hand his side an 18-14 lead at the interval. That proved to not be enough for the visitors as Ravouvou added a second and Joe Batley finished a flowing strike with fly-half AJ MacGinty finishing with 11 points from four successful conversions and a penalty. James Ramm added a late consolation try for Saints but the missed conversion ensured Northampton didn’t even get a losing bonus point for their efforts.
READ MORE: Bristol Bears 31-23 Northampton Saints LIVE: Full highlights and reaction
South West rugby writer John Evely takes a closer look at the individual performances of the Bristol Bears players….
15. Rich Lane – 7
The full back’s pace in tandem with this Bears wrap-around attack this season is a match made in heaven as he just opens up his legs and repeatedly stretches the opposition’s defence. There were a couple of mistakes under the high ball but also some lovely handling as the Bears went into overdrive with the ‘keep ball alive’ philosophy.
14. Jack Bates – 6
Bates’ move back to the wing was shortlived as he was asked to go back into the centres when Benhard Janse van Rensburg came off with a knock in the first half. The Bears academy graduate did his basics well as he moved the ball to the more dangerous players around him.
13. Kalaveti Ravouvou – 8
Making his first start of the season having suffered a shoulder injury in pre-season, the Fijian international scored a brace of tries in an impressive display where he showed his power, footwork and pace. Ravouvou grew into the contest to become the primary ball carrier in the backline once Benhard Janse van Rensburg was forced off after a failed HIA. His first try was thanks to a brilliant cut line off AJ MacGinty, the second was about power and mobility as he took the ball at top speed, spun out of a tackle and then reached out to slam the ball down. Ravouvou also showed his passing ability with a difficult flat pass to put Ibitoye in for a try.
12. Benhard Janse van Rensburg – 5
Also making his return to the starting XV after suffering a minor calf niggle, the South African’s comeback was shortlived after suffering a head knock in the first half which saw him fail a HIA.
11. Gabriel Ibitoye – 7
Having been compared to former club greats likes Charles Piutau and Semi Radradra earlier in the week by his director of rugby, the winger produced his now customary moments of magic with an audacious offload to set-up the try for Joe Batley and he touched down in the corner for a relative walk in after a nice flat pass from Ravouvou.
10. AJ MacGinty – 8
The USA international is now clearly the most important player in the Bears side as he is the one man who is potentially irreplaceable, especially in this form. He ran a brilliant drift line before switching with Ravouvou to put the centre in for a try. Kicked flawlessly as well with an 11-point haul from four conversions and a penalty.
9. Kieran Marmion – 6
Given the number nine jersey in the absence of Harry Randall who is away with England preparing for the Autumn Nations Cup, the Irish international scrum-half showed he is good enough to be a regular starter with an assured display. While he might be a gear behind Randall at the moment, he fulfilled the brief perfectly, injecting pace with quick taps and darting around the park.
1. Jake Woolmore – 5
Also promoted into the starting lineup with Eliis Genge away with England, the Bristol scrum really struggled against Saints as the home pack collectively coughed up multiple penalties at the setpiece.
2. Gabriel Oghre – 5
Despite Harry Thacker returning to full fitness, the in-form hooker has established himself as first choice in the number two jersey so far this season, that was until Thacker came onto the pitch and helped transform the Bears attack with his running and even kicking game. Pat Lam is blessed with talent in the number two jersey.
3. Max Lahiff – 5
The tighthead has got through a lot of work in the first block of six Premiership games and has been solid throughout but he was given a tough day in the scrum against Saints.
4. James Dun – 6
Moved over to the second row to fill the void left by a pectoral injury to Josh Caulfield, Dun showcased his athleticism by hitting just as many rucks and making as many tackles as you would expect from him when playing as a flanker.
5. Joe Batley – 8
The big lock is in the form of his life and just has such nice hands. The Bears have really worked on his engine and he was still revving it late in the game when he was in support of Sam Wolstenholme to take the final pass and complete another long-range strike from Bristol. Vitally, Batley also excelled in the basics of the lock role as well and walked off with TNT Sports’ player of the match award.
6. Steven Luatua – 9
The former All Black returned to the team after suffering a minor calf issue and came up with potentially one of his most impressive displays for the Bears after eight years at the club. He carried like an absolute juggernaut to repeatedly cause damage in the wide areas of the pitch with one stunning drive making about 10m after contact.
7. Benjamin Grondona – 8
Starting at openside in place of his injured older proper Santi, the Argentine once again showed his ability to dominate in defence as he put in a series of huge tackles with a big hit early in the game setting the tone.
8. Fitz Harding – 7
The skipper didn’t reach the heights of last week as he was one of those guilty of dropping a couple of balls early in the game as the Bears tried to force things too much, but with the difficulty of how they are trying to play his errors can be forgiven.
Replacements:
16. Harry Thacker – 8
17. Yann Thomas – 6
18. George Kloska – 7
19. Joe Owen – 6
20. Jake Heenan – 6
21. Sam Wolstenholme – 6
22. Sam Worsley – 6
23. Benjamin Elizalde – 7