Bristol Bears recorded a record-breaking 61-19 victory over derby rivals Bath Rugby on Friday night in another Premiership Rugby Cup demolition job.
In the 250th meeting between the two historic clubs, Bristol score more points than ever before, running in nine tries to three.
The Bears touched down through Rich Lane, Jack Bates, Bryan Byrne, Niyi Adeolokin (2), Dave Attwood, George Kloska, Mitch Eadie and Piers O'Conor.
Bath crossed three times through Joe Simpson, Tom Prydie and Mackenzie Graham.
South West rugby reporter John Evely takes a closer look at the individual performances from the Bristol Bears players from the victory at Ashton Gate.
15. Rich Lane - 8
The on loan Bedford man scored is first try for the club to cap a superb individual performance, taking a brilliant quick pass from Piers O’Conor to saunter in.
He also set up a try for Adeolokun after intercepting a pass from Max Ojomoh.
Composed and a natural on the big stage.
14. Niyi Adeolokun - 8
The winger finished with a brace of tries as Bristol’s attack really flourished.
He showed great desire to race across the pitch and provide support to Rich Lane after the full-back picked off a pass from Orlando Bailey deep in his own half and raced to within a metre of the line before being stopped by a great tackle from Gabriel Hamer-Webb. Lane offload to Adeolokun and threw an offload that asked a lot of the Irish international but he stooped brilliantly to pick the ball off his laces and touch down.
His second try typified the Bears’ tactics to stretch Bath right to the extremities of the pitch, hugging the right touchline to be in place to take a wide misspass from Eden.
13. Jack Bates - 8
The young centre has got legitimate pace and there was no catching him as he took an inside pass from O’Conor to finish a wonderful 75m counter-attacking move from the Bears for their second try of the game.
12. Piers O’Conor - 9
It is not an overstatement to say O’Conor was the key difference between the two sides as he created tries with his passing and finished them, using his pace to rip open the visitors.
The Bears have been guilty of drifting across the pitch too much this season and eating up all their room in attack but they were much more direct on Friday night.
Pure class from start to finish.
11. Matthew Jones - 7
The winger had an under-the-radar display but as a young man breaking into the senior side that should be considered a win.
Drew praise from Lam post match.
10. Tiff Eden - 8
Playing opposit Orlando Bailey who has been training with England throughout the Six Nations as he is seen as a rising talent in the game, Eden - who has spent the majority of his career in the Championship and has struggled for game time at Bristol - looked the far superior fly-half on the pitch.
He set in motion Bristol’s second try with a hard run at the line that sucked in two Bath defenders and yet Eden still got the offload away to Dan Thomas on his inside and the Bears went 75m to score through Jack Bates.
Another pin-point wide pass put Adeolokun in for a try although a second attempt to play in the winger was off the mark and got picked off by Will Butt who raced away to set up the score for Mackenzie Graham.
Landed seven of eight conversion attempts.
9. Theo Strang - 7
By far his best game for the club.
The scrum-half cut out the errors that have haunted his first team career so far and ran some brilliant support lines to keep breaks alive.
Having previously struggled with his box kicks the Bears noticeably took the kicking duties away from him with Bristol opting to pass back to Eden in the pocket to clear instead. It worked well.
His zip of a pass does present opportunities for the Bears to work the ball wide quickly. Growing.
1. Ashley Challenger - 6
Playing in the unusual position of loosehead he held his own at the scrum and helped the Bears win the physical battle across the pitch, especially in the maul.
2. Bryan Byrne - 7
Scored a try at the bottom of a driving maul from a close range lineout as is so often the case for Bears hookers.
A will runner throughout.
3. Jake Armstrong - 7
The Bears scrum looked better with him in it but after taking a knock in the first half he was removed early. Nearly scored a try with a powerful surge close to the line.
4. Dave Attwood - 8
The lock picked up another try, his third in as many games, as he finished the Bears’ best maul try of the game as the hosts drove over from 15m out, spinning the point of attack three times to spit Bath defenders out the back and patiently power over.
5. Ed Holmes - 8
The second-row would have scored a nine had it not been for a dodgy five-minute spell early in the second half when he threw a couple of ill-advised passes that were turned over.
He was a standout carrier and stop performer in the lineout both with and without the ball.
6. John Hawkins - 8
Skippering the side for the first time the flanker was named the official man of the match in the stadium as he led the team well, helped Bristol dominate the breakdown and made strong, eye catching carries.
‘Things have just clicked for him’ said Pat Lam post match.
7. Dan Thomas - 9
The flanker was absolutely outstanding as he was a menace at the breakdown and set up multiple tries with his running and link play, with clever, flick, inside passes devastatingly changing the point of attack in the backline.
At times it was like there were three of him on the pitch as he was everywhere.
Banging down the door for a place back in the first team.
8. Mitch Eadie - 8
The number eight provided a reminder to Pat Lam that he has something to offer at number eight with the Bears director of rugby set to bring back Nathan Hughes from his impressive loan to Bath.
A go forward machine in the tight all match and capped by a stunning, rampaging run for his try, going through the tackle of George Worboys and then having the power to drag a defender over the line while staying in the field of play.
Replacements:
16. Will Capon- 7,
17. Tom Sims - N/A
18. George Kloska - 7,
19. James Dun - 7,
20. Macennzie Duncan - 7
21. George Taylor - N/A
22. Jac Lloyd - 7
