1 day ago
14
A long way, still, from a first English title maybe, but Bristol stared down their darkest demons in the sunshine at Ashton Gate. No, no, not again, all but the most phlegmatic of a raucous crowd must have been thinking, as Harlequins threatened to overturn Bristol’s early lead in all-too-familiar style, midway through the second half.
Memories of that extraordinary semi-final here four years ago were at the forefront of everyone’s minds, including, surely, those in blue out there on the greensward, lungs burning, minds twisting. Had they succumbed, the entire Pat Lam project might just have gone up in smoke, so yawning the flaws would have seemed.
As it is, players, coaches and staff held their nerve. Only five points ahead with more than 25 minutes remaining, having been 19 ahead midway through the first, Bristol finished strongly to claim the fourth playoff spot – and with it a tie at deeply beloved rivals down the A4, Bath. They can move on to that now with confidence and little to lose.
The telling moment was a searching touch-finder from AJ MacGinty, the man-of-the-match and such a vital hand on the tiller for this wild, free-flowing team. His 50-22 just shy of the hour set up the attack from which Bristol replied to Quins’ questions, in a way that proved impossible in 2021. When Santiago Grondona drove over at the second attempt, for Bristol’s sixth try of the day, the visitors, albeit this time playing without the prize on offer the year they went on to win the final, fell away.
Gabriel Ibitoye, once of Quins himself, scored his second a few minutes later, his 13th try of the season, before BJ van Rensburg crashed over with 10 minutes remaining. In a match that was a microcosm of their season – so rich in action and flair for the first half, before dwindling alarmingly in the second half – Bristol had righted themselves to deny Gloucester and Saracens, who both registered bonus-point wins behind them.
Premiership roundup: Leicester at home while Sarries miss out
ShowLeicester secured a home semi-final with a 42-20 victory over bottom-placed Newcastle at Welford Road. The Tigers were always expected to secure second spot against opponents with just two league victories all season and ran in six tries to book a date with third-placed Sale next Saturday.
It means the soon-to-be retiring trio of Ben Youngs, Dan Cole and Mike Brown – over 300 England caps between them – will have one more match on home turf as Leicester seek a 12th league title.
The Falcons opened the scoring in the 17th minute through a Brett Connon penalty from in front of the posts but Leicester’s response was swift as they took the lead two minutes later when good hands from Joseph Woodward and Freddie Steward led to the back-rower Hanro Liebenberg stepping inside to score, with Handre Pollard converting.
Further tries followed for Josh Bassett, Solomone Kata, Joe Heyes, Matt Rogerson and Ollie Hassell-Collins.
Connon landed a second penalty and two conversions after late tries for Ollie Leatherbarrow and Sammy Arnold.
Sale booked their place in the playoffs after they were pushed all the way by second-bottom Exeter in an enthralling 30-26 contest at Sandy Park.
There seemed little doubt over the Sharks’ destiny at half-time – when they led 20-5 - but Chiefs got within four points with just over two minutes left. However, the visitors hung on at the death to set up a semi-final trip to Leicester.
Saracens overcame a heavily weakened Bath but their limp 36-26 victory at the StoneX Stadium was not enough to secure a place in the playoffs. Bath had already booked a home semi-final on Friday, enabling them to pick an entirely new matchday 23 to the one that defeated Lyon in the Challenge Cup final last weekend, and they were duly dispatched. But victories for Sale and Bristol meant a top-four finish was out of Saracens’ reach, regardless of events in north London and they finished a disappointing campaign in sixth place. PA Media
Bristol had rattled up an early lead. Not quite the 28-0 lead after half an hour they held in 2021, but 26-7 up, bonus-point fourth in the bag, within 25 minutes is going some. They thought they had a fifth within the half-hour, only for it to be chalked off for a marginal forward pass. George Kloska, Joe Batley, the lethal Kalaveti Ravouvou and Viliame Mata were the try-scorers, with Cadan Murley, electric as always, scoring the first of two first-half tries for Quins.
after newsletter promotion
When Ibitoye finished a counterattack from Bristol’s 22 five minutes into the second half, all seemed set fair at 31-12. But then came Quins, without a care in the world. Alex Dombrandt and George Hammond finished quickfire tries to set the Bears the test. They came through.
