Report: Bristol Bears 67-19 Bedford Blues
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Bristol Bears’ young guns kicked off their Premiership Rugby Cup campaign in style with a scintillating 11-try triumph over Bedford Blues at Ashton Gate.
Seven tries from seven different scorers put Bears in command at the break as Joe Jenkins, Kieran Marmion, Toby Fricker, Harry Thacker, Jack Bates, Benjamin Elizalde and Yann Thomas all scored, with Sam Worlsey adding four conversions.
Blues rallied late in the first half with two tries in four minutes from Tommy Herman and Will Maisey, with the latter converting both, to give the visitors hope at the interval.
But Bears completed a convincing victory with a brace from Kalaveti Ravouvou and a second from Thacker, with Alfie Garside grabbing a late consolation for Bedford.
Pat Lam named 14 current or former Academy players in his matchday 23 and the hosts hit the ground running with the opening score coming inside three minutes as Joe Jenkins capitalised on a no look pass from Worsley to go through the hole.
Worlsey stepped up to add the extras from the tee and was soon adding another conversion after Ben Grondona and Marmion linked up to put the scrum-half over.
The third try was straight from the training ground as slick passing set up Fricker to cruise in under the sticks with Worlsey slotting the extras to make it 21-0.
After a fast flowing start to the contest, Bears showed their versatility with a rolling lineout drive for the fourth of the afternoon as Thacker powered over the whitewash for his record-breaking 34th try at Ashton Gate to overtake Luke Morahan’s total.
Jack Bates replaced Jenkins on 21 minutes and made an instant impact, scoring with his first touch of the game after being set up by Joe Owen on 24 minutes.
It only took another two minutes for Bears to add to their total as Benjamin Elizalde grabbed his first try for the club following a coast-to-coast move from the hosts.
Thomas rumbled over for Bears’ seventh try of the half before Blues hit back with two quickfire scores from Herman and Maisey to cut the deficit to 43-14 at the break.
Following the fireworks of the first half, it was a quieter start to the second period before skipper Heenan drove over from a lineout maul to extend the hosts’ lead to 48-14.
Ravouvou got in on the act with his first try just after the hour mark, pouncing on the ball after Worlsey’s chip ahead bounced off the post, with Elizalde adding the extras.
Marmion then set up Ravouvou for his second score in five minutes as Bears went 90 metres in the blink of an eye before another two points from Elizalde made it 62-14.
Thacker also crossed for his second of the game on 72 minutes before Blues claimed a consolation score through Alfie Garside as Bears kicked off their Premiership Rugby Cup campaign with a commanding 67-19 win to pick up all five points.
Bristol Bears: Tries: Jenkins 3, Marmion 6, Fricker 13, Thacker 19, 72, Bates 24, Elizalde 26, Thomas 30, Heenan 53, Ravouvou 62, 65; Cons: Worsley 4, 6, 14, 31; Elizalde 63, 66
Bedford Blues: Tries: Herman 34, Maisey 38, Garside; Cons: Maisey 35, 39
Bristol Bears: 15. Benjamin Elizalde, 14. Toby Fricker, 13. Kalaveti Ravouvou, 12. Joe Jenkins, 11. Deago Bailey, 10. Sam Worsley, 9. Kieran Marmion; 1. Yann Thomas, 2. Harry Thacker, 3. Lovejoy Chawatama, 4. Kenzie Jenkins, 5. Joe Owen, 6. Paddy Pearce, 7. Jake Heenan (c), 8. Benjamin Grondona.
Replacements: 16. Will Capon, 17. Louie Trevett, 18. Jimmy Halliwell, 19. Tom Doughty, 20. Aaron Tull, 21. Sam Edwards, 22. Jack Bates, 23. Harry Rowson.
Bedford Blues: 15. Matt Worley, 14. Will Glister, 13. Alfie Garside, 12. Lucas Titherington, 11. Dean Adamson, 10. Will Maisey, 9. James Lennon; 1. Joey Conway, 2. Tommy Herman, 3. Beltus Nonleh, 4. Shay Kerry, 5. George Smith, 6. Luke Frost, 7. Joe Howard (C), 8. Archie Benson
Replacements: 16. James Fish, 17. Jamie Jack, 18. Oisin Heffernan, 19. Rory Ward, 20. Jac Arthur, 21. Alex Day, 22. Louis James, 23. Joel Matavesi
