Bristol thrash Quins to spoil Marler's farewell

Gallagher Premiership

Harlequins (17) 24

Tries: Dombrandt, Murley, Northmore, Green Cons: Evans 2

Bristol (21) 48

Tries: Ravouvou, Ibitoye, Marmion, Mata, Van Rensburg, Grondona Cons: MacGinty 6 Pens: MacGinty 2

Bristol Bears hammered Harlequins with a stylish display to go top of the Premiership as the retiring Joe Marler bowed out at The Stoop with defeat.

The Bears edged a frenetic, seesaw first half 21-17, through Kavaleti Ravouvou, Gabriel Ibitoye and Kieran Marmion scores, with Alex Dombrandt, Cadan Murley and Luke Northmore replying.

Vialiame Mata's debut try extended the lead, and after ex-England prop Marler was replaced, Bernhard Janse van Rensburg and Santiago Grondona added two quick scores to take Bears 28 points clear.

Tyrone Green's try cut the gap, but AJ MacGinty extended his perfect evening with the boot, kicking a penalty to take his tally to 18 points and cap an impressive win.

Harlequins: Green; Isgro, Beard, Northmore, Murley; Evans, Porter; Marler, Walker, Kerrod, Launchbury, Lamb, Kenningham, Evans, Dombrandt (c).

Replacements: Jibulu, Baxter, Lamostiele, Hammond, Chisholm, Care, Benson, David.

Sin-bin: Kerrod (43).

Bristol: Lane; Bates, Ravouvou, Janse van Rensburg, Ibitoye; MacGinty, Marmion; Woolmore, Oghre, Lahiff, Dun, Owen, Grondona, Harding (c), Mata.

Replacements: Thacker, Thomas, Chawatama, Luatua, Grondona, Lennon, Jenkins, Elizalde.

Referee: Luke Pearce