Report: Bristol Bears 36-27 Newcastle Red Bulls

Louis Rees-Zammit scored a brace as Bears came from behind to secure a bonus-point win over Newcastle Red Bulls in a thrilling Gallagher PREM clash at Ashton Gate.

Bears went into the interval 17-12 behind after the visitors scored three tries, with Rees-Zammit and Matias Moroni responding for the hosts in an end-to-end first half.

But with 22,003 supporters cheering Pat Lam’s men on, second-half tries from Noah Heward, Kalaveti Ravouvou, Rees-Zammit and Gabriel Oghre ensured the hosts made it three league wins in a row and claimed all five points in the final game of 2025.

The festive fixture marked a special occasion for Harry Randall, who led out the team with his twin girls to celebrate his 150^th appearance for the club, before Newcastle scored two quickfire tries through Murray McCallum and Oli Spencer.

Bear Country rose for a minute’s applause in the 18th minute to pay tribute to Arthur Cleaver, a young supporter who passed away last week after a courageous two-and-half-year battle with Leukaemia. Arthur, 18, played his rugby at Gordano Sharks and held a Season Ticket for most of his young life, alongside his dad Andrew and sister Hetty.

Slick hands from the Bears backline delivered the opening try for the hosts as Rees-Zammit scorched over for his first of the game, before the hosts edged ahead with a first try for Argentinian international Moroni and a successful conversion from Tom Jordan.

Red Bulls had the final say of the first half, though, as Oli Leatherbarrow added a third try, converted by Brett Connon, to put Newcastle 17-12 up at the break.

Ellis Genge, Oghre and Pedro Rubiolo were introduced early in the second half and soon had an impact, with Jordan linking up with Oghre to put Heward over.

Newcastle cancelled out the score with Spencer’s second of the afternoon on 49 minutes, but Gallagher PREM Player of the Match Genge produced a monster carry on 52 minutes to pave the way for Ravouvou to cross in the corner as Bears cut the deficit to 27-22.

The lead was reclaimed just before the hour mark when Rees-Zammit put his foot on the gas to cut through the Newcastle defence for his second try, converted by Jordan.

Bears pulled further ahead moments later with a big power play at maul time setting up Oghre to barge over the whitewash, with James Williams extending the advantage to 36-27.

A 20-minute red card for Joe Batley and a yellow for Ravouou kept the crowd on the edge of their seats for the closing minutes of the contest as Newcastle piled on the pressure but Bears weathered the storm to finish the year with a bonus-point win.