Bristol Bears brought a sense of joy back to Ashton Gate on Friday night with a swashbuckling, free-flowing display against Sale Sharks who came to town hoping to secure a home semi-final in the Premiership Rugby Cup.
In the end the Bears, who had nothing to play for except pride, stunned Sale as they ran out emphatic 43-19 winners in an outstanding display.
Ioan Lloyd, who was sensational from start to finish making his first start of the season on the wing, scored a hat-trick and a magical try from Noah Heward as well as scores from Ed Holmes, Harry Ascherl and Fred Davies gave Bristol arguably their most impressive win of the season.
READ MORE: Bristol Bears 43-19 Sale Sharks LIVE: Reaction from Premiership Rugby Cup win
Going into the game Sale needed to win by 29 points to book a home semi-final but despite scoring three tries, a brace from Elliot Gourlay and his fellow winger Tom Roebuck, they got nowhere near a dominant Bristol Bears outfit.
George Ford made a much-anticipated return to first-team rugby after 229 days out with an injured Achilles he suffered as his former employers Leicester won the Premiership final last June, but the England international had little impact on the game before being subbed at half-time as his side struggled throughout the encounter.
Bristol director of rugby Pat Lam had named a relatively experienced side, but his team were brilliant, and it will give them a much-needed boost before attentions return to the Gallagher Premiership in two weeks’ time as they look to move off the foot of the table against Newcastle Falcons.
Sale scrum-half Raffi Quirke was rightly sent to the sin bin for a professional foul inside ten minutes as he tackled Henry Purdy off the ball following a break down the tramlines, which allowed Bristol to advance deep into Sharks territory and the hosts took full advantage, as Lloyd showed great strength to score in the corner despite the attention of three Sharks defenders.
Bristol looked bright and despite their comparative inexperience with the Sharks, they were the better team early on and went close to extending their lead only for Purdy to spill the ball in prime attacking position.
The game had become scrappy but Noah Heward, having initially dropped a high ball, regathered, and proceeded to light up Ashton Gate evading three defenders and demonstrating great speed to go 80 metres, rounding opposite number Jason Woodward - formerly of this parish, and score a stunning individual try. James Williams converted for a 12-0 lead.
Bristol continued to impress and after a poor error from Quirke, Bristol capitalized, as some lovely deft hands sent Lloyd in for his second. Williams couldn’t convert and Bristol deservedly led 17-0 after 30 minutes.
The momentum was fully with the Bears, and they took full control as they rammed home their advantage at the end of the first period, first Holmes crossed to give Bristol the bonus point and moments later a brilliant arcing miss-pass from Callum Sheedy found Lloyd who sailed over for a first half hat-trick.
Sale eventually responded and produced a nice move to send Gourlay over for a score right before half-time which was the only blemish on an otherwise perfect first-half from the Bears, as they took a superb 31-5 lead into the break.
The Bears continued where they left off at the start of the second half as Ascherl picked a lovely line to power his way over underneath the sticks and the try was easily converted by Williams.
Bristol continued to impress with their intent to play from anywhere, but it was the forwards turn to show what they could do and after Sale's replacement hooker Harry Thompson was sent to the bin for one maul infringement there was no stopping the second catch and drive as Davies touched down for the Bears’ seventh of the evening.
Sale did gain some control as the game ebbed towards the finish and after Bristol centre Williams was sent to the sinbin for straying offside, Sale did take advantage with Gourlay going over for his and Sale’s second try of the evening.
Roebuck also crossed for the Sharks late on, but it was nothing more than a consolation for the visitors who endured a miserable evening in the West Country.
Bristol Bears: 15. Noah Heward, 14. Ioan Lloyd, 13. Harry Ascherl, 12. James Williams, 11. Henry Purdy, 10. Callum Sheedy, 9. Andy Uren; 1. Jake Woolmore (c), 2. Fred Davies, 3. George Kloska, 4. Charlie Rice, 5. Ed Holmes, 6. Joe Owen, 7. Dan Thomas, 8. Aaron Tull..
Replacements: 16. Jake Kerr, 17. Andrew Turner, 18. Jay Tyack, 19. Paddy Pearce, 20. Macenzzie Duncan, 21. Sam Lewis, 22. Oscar Lennon, 23. Sam Worsley.
Sale Sharks: 15. Jason Woodward, 14. Tom Roebuck, 13. Tom Curtis, 12. Sam Hill, 11. Elliot Gourlay, 10. George Ford, 9. Raffi Quirke; 1. Bevan Rodd, 2. Tommy Taylor, 3. Coenie Oosthuizen, 4. Ben Bamber, 5. Alex Groves, 6. Ewan Murphy, 7. Sam Dugdale ©, 8. Rouban Birch
Replacements: 16. Harry Thompson, 17. Tumy Onasanya, 18. Joe Jones, 19. Dom Barrow, 20. Will Riley, 21. Will Cliff, 22. Ryan Mills, 23. Joe Bedlow.
Referee: Andrew Jackson
Assistant referees: Joe James and Simon Adams
