Bristol Bears' coaches and players cut frustrated figures post-match at Ashton Gate despite a 33-19 win over Perpignan.
Like a firework, Bristol Bears lit the fuse and exploded into life in the first half at of their final pool stage game of the European Challenge Cup to score five tries before the break.
But a pointless, disjointed, error-filled second half from the hosts sucked away the joy and enthusiasm which had been created in the first 40 minutes, leaving the players, coaches and fans with a sense of frustration.
Bristol assistant coach Conor McPhillips reflected: "The first half showed what we can do, we scored some great team tries and some great individual displays on top of that but ultimately you have to be able to kick on if you want to go far in this competition because you are going to come up against some quality sides.
"The coaches and players are all frustrated with the second half. The leaders were giving really good messages at half time but sadly our actions didn't match that after the break. It was a game of two halves literally.
"We will have to look into what happened a bit deeper but it looked like we were forcing things in the second half."
While it was a long way from an 80-minute performance, in truth the Bears got the job done at a canter, putting their midweek points deduction by tournament organisers EPCR for allowing Elliot Stooke to leave the club early, thereby making him ineligible to play in the competition but only after two cameos off the replacements bench for Bristol back in December, behind them to win 33-19 at home.
Tries from Harry Randall, an Ellis Genge brace, Dan Thomas and Siva Naulago gave the Bears a commanding 33-7 lead at the break and an attacking bonus point having fallen behind through Ali Crossdale’s score but the English side couldn’t find the same spark in the second period and Perpignan did well scoring two tries through Nino Seguela and Victor Molo.
The bonus point win gave Bristol the faintest hopes of earning a home game in the last 16 knockout rounds but Glasgow's 19-19 draw with Bath in Scotstoun ensured the Bears will have to qualify the hard way, on the road.
Bristol began with a real tempo in their play but inaccuracy at crucial moments meant they were unable to capitalize on early momentum and it was the visitors who stuck first with fullback Ali Crossdale crossing for at try after being in the right spot to take a fortunate no look over the head pass from lock Bastien Chinarro which was a much a juggle of a miscontrolled ball more than anything calculated.
However, Bristol hit back immediately after a few big carries from AJ MacGinty and Kyle Sinckler, Randall sniped over to draw the sides level.
Bristol then sparked into life and upped their levels to take the game away from their French visitors in a pulsating twenty-minute period.
AJ Macginty, who impressed throughout the first period, produced a lovely pass which saw the ferocious Genge grab his first try and minutes later Harry Thacker showed his skill to kick forward before finding Thomas in space to score and when Naulago crossed in the corner moments later, the game looked over as a contest.
Harry Randall who was a constant threat then found Semi Radrardra in acres of space and the Fijian decided to give the ball to Genge on the try line who crossed for his second of the game right on half time, MacGinty converted to give the Bears a 33-7 lead at the break.
Perpignan to their credit came out and grabbed the first try of the second half working the ball wide smoothly to send Seguela over in the corner.
The visitors weren’t finished and found a glaring hole in the Bears midfield as Moro waltzed in untouched to restore some hope for the Top 14 side.
Bristol began to get on top again but couldn’t quite find their finishing touch with both Naulago and Max Lahiff dropping the ball with the try line at their mercy.
In the end the game drifted out with a whimper but Bristol looked at times like the side of a few years ago who lifted the Challenge Cup trophy against Toulon, but at other times looked like a side bottom of the Gallagher Premiership with a trip to league leaders Saracens up next.
Bristol Bears: 15. Rich Lane, 14. Deago Bailey, 13. Semi Radradra, 12. James Williams, 11. Ratu Naulago, 10. AJ MacGinty, 9. Harry Randall, 1. Ellis Genge (c), 2. Harry Thacker, 3. Kyle Sinckler, 4. Joe Batley, 5. Chris Vui, 6. Magnus Bradbury, 7. Daniel Thomas, 8. Fitz Harding.
Replacements: 16. Fred Davies, 17. Jake Woolmore, 18. Max Lahiff, 19. John Hawkins, 20. Jake Heenan, 21. Andy Uren, 22. Callum Sheedy, 23. Jack Bates,
USAP: 15. Ali Crossdale, 14. Nino Seguela, 13. Eddie Sawailau, 12. Pato Fernandez, 11. Lucas Dubois, 10. Alexandre Perez, 9. Matteo Rodor (c), 1. Samir Bououda, 2. Mike Tadjer, 3. Akato Fakatika, 4. Bastien Chinarro, 5. Andrei Mahu, 6. Taniela Ramasibana, 7. Ewan Bertheau, 8. Valentin Moro.
Replacements: 16. Victor Montgaillard, 17. Xavier Chiocci, 18. Vatang Jincharadze, 19. Posolo Tuilagi, 20. Victor Moreaux, 21. Lenny Viola, 22. Keanu Desrues, 23. Lilian Pichon,
Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Ru Campbell (Scotland) and Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa)
TMO: Andrew McMenemy (Scotland)
