Eight-try Bristol deny Newcastle comeback

Gallagher Premiership

Bristol (21) 55

Tries: Oghre, Heward 2, Ravouvou 2, Mata, Marmion, Bailey Cons: Byrne 4, Janse van Rensburg Pens: Byrne

Newcastle (14) 35

Tries: Chick, Blamire, Clark, Stevenson 2 Cons: Connon 5

Bristol held off a resilient Newcastle comeback to record a 55-33 victory at Ashton Gate and consolidate second place in the Premiership.

The Bears raced to a rapid 21-0 lead before tries from Callum Chick and Jamie Blamire brought the Falcons into contention.

A second Kalaveti Ravouvou score for Bristol looked to have the hosts clear again but Max Clark and Ben Stevenson closed the gap to only three points.

But when Newcastle had a man sent to the bin, Bristol were ruthlessly clinical as Viliame Mata, Kieron Marmion and Diego Bailey scored before Heward added an eighth with the clock in red.

The win sees Bristol remain six points behind league leaders Bath while Newcastle stay bottom but pick up their first bonus point of the season.

More to follow.

Bristol: Lane; Heward, Jenkins, Janse van Rensburg, Kavouvou; Byrne, Marmion; Thomas, Oghre, Lahiff; Dun, Owen, S. Grondona, Harding, Mata.

Replacements: Capon, Woolmore, Kloska, Luatua, Heenan, Wolstenholme, Elizalde, Bailey.

Newcastle: Obatoyinbo; Pepper, Hearle, Clark, Stevenson; Connon, Stuart; Brocklebank, Blamire, McCalllum; De Chaves, McDonald Seran, Van der Walt, Lockwood, Chick.

Replacements: Fletcher, Rewcastle, De Bruin, Hawkins, Leatherbarrow, Davis, Wilkinson, Spencer.

Sin bin: Hearle (66 mins)

Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys