A leaky defensive performance from the Bristol Bears saw the West Country side lose their fourth game of the Premiership season, going down 45-31 to Northampton Saints on Saturday.
The scoreline flatters Bristol as Saints ran out to a 31-point lead after 43 minutes having scored a brace of tries through man of the match Alex Mitchell, winger Ollie Sleightholme, lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and winger Matt Proctor in reply to an early maul try from Bears hooker Harry Thacker
Former Worcester fly-half Fin Smith kicked five conversions and a penalty as he impressed on his Saints debut.
The visitors to Franklin's Gardens performed much better in the second half as Sheedy converted his own 53rd-minute interception try and flanker Magnus Bradbury also scored.
Thacker then crossed for his second touchdown from a maul that AJ MacGinty converted, securing a losing bonus point before replacement Northampton fly-half James Grayson scored and converted Saints' sixth try of the day.
MacGinty claimed a fifth Bristol try during the closing seconds, but Saints were never seriously threatened.
South West rugby writer John Evely takes a closer look at the individual performances from the Bristol Bears players…
15. Charles Piutau - 6
The Tongan international full back looked dangerous in the first quarter as he broke the line and claimed high balls imperiously. Although, when Bristol started to double up on errors he dropped an easy scissors pass from Piers O’Conor to only make matters worse.
Bristol lost their confidence and rhythm when he left the field with a cut on his nose in the 21st minute.
14. Luke Morahan - 6
The Australian finished with 52m made and team high four defenders beaten but it wasn’t until the second half that he began to have success.
13. Piers O’Conor - 5
The outside centre began to open up Saints in the second half with his nice passing but was part of a backline that really struggled in defence.
12. Sam Bedlow - 5
The inside centre made a team-high 11 tackles but missed three as Northampton found real joy attacking through the Bristol midfield.
Showed plenty of character to make the hard yards in attack and put his body on the line in defence.
11. Henry Purdy - 5
The winger was bumped off in the tackle for Mitchell’s second try and failed to really threaten in attack. Withdrawn early.
10. Callum Sheedy - 6
The fly-half took over as captain and took the side on his shoulders in the second half, doing well to finish from 60m out after intercepting a pass from Fin Smith.
A decent passing and running display and he landed two out of three from the kicking tee.
The Welshman's initial defensive stats are ugly though, making no tackles and missing three.
9. Andy Uren - 5
The scrum half was outplayed by his opposite number Mitchell who was a constant threat with ball in hand. The Bears became more of a threat when he was moved to the wing and new signing Will Porter took over at scrum half.
1. Jake Woolmore - 5
The scrum was a a back and forth battle with neither side having a clear advantage. Missed three tackles
2. Harry Thacker - 6
The hooker scored two tries, both from driving mauls but a couple of key lineouts went wrong to take the pressure off the hosts.
3. Max Lahiff - 5
Bristol generally had parity at the scrum, even winning a couple of penalties against the head.
4. Joe Batley - 5
The lock got caught for pace by Mitchell for the scrum-half’s first try but battled relentlessly.
5. Joe Joyce - 5
The skipper failed a HIA after coming off in the 21st minute and had carried well until that point
6. Magnus Bradbury - 6
Returning from a head knock that has seen him sidelined for couple of weeks the big Scottish international scored a superb try in the corner, using his strength to stay in field and dotting down dispite the best efforts of the home defence
7. Sam Lewis - 5
Making his first Premiership start for Bristol Bears after joining the club in the summer the flanker will be disappointed to be withdrawn after 45 minutes. Saints’ ruck speed was mindblowing quick.
8. Fitz Harding - 6
The number eight grew into the game and became an increasing threat running the wide channels.
Replacements
16. Will Capon - 5
17. Yann Thomas - 6
18. Jay Tyack - 5
19. Chris Vui - 8
20. Jake Heenan - 6
21. Will Porter - 7
22. AJ MacGinty - 6
23. Jack Bates - 5
