Bristol inflict bruising first loss on rivals Bath

Gallagher Premiership

Bath: (7) 26

Tries: Harris, Butt, Molony, Lawrence Cons: Russell 3

Bristol: (26) 36

Tries: Malins, Grondona 2, Janse van Rensburg, Oghre Cons: MacGinty 4 Pen: MacGinty

Bristol inflicted a first defeat of the season on an out-of-sorts Bath in a dominant West Country derby display at a sold-out Recreation Ground.

The Bears raced to a 19-point lead and bonus point in the first 40 minutes through tries from Max Malins, Benhard Janse van Rensburg and two from debutant Santiago Grondona, with only Sam Harris on the scoreboard for Bath.

An unusually error-riddled Bath saw two tries chalked off by the TMO, before quickfire scores from Will Butt and Ross Molony pulled them to within six points with 22 minutes left.

But Gabriel Oghre’s try extended Bristol’s cushion before Ollie Lawrence scored a late fourth try for Bath to ensure they at least took a consolation bonus point.

More to follow.

Bath: Harris, De Glanville, Lawrence, Butt, McConnochie, Russell, Spencer (c); Obano, Annett, Du Toit, Roux, Ewels, Hill, Pepper, Reid.

Replacements: Dunn, Van Wyk, Stuart, Molony, Underhill, Schreuder, Redpath, Coetzee.

Sin-bin: Underhill (61 mins)

Bristol: Malins, Lane, Janse van Rensburg, Williams, Ibitoye, MacGinty, Randall; Genge, Oghre, Lahiff, Dun, Batley, Luatua, Grondona, Harding (c).

Replacements: Capon, Woolmore, Kloska, Owen, Grondona, Marmion, Jenkins, Bates.

Sin-bin: Grondona (48 mins)

Referee: Christophe Ridley