| Bristol Bears (12) 26 |
| Tries: Radradra, Piutau, Byrne, Ibitoye Cons: Sheedy, MacGinty |
| Leicester Tigers (23) 26 |
| Tries: Kelly, Ashton, Montoya Con: Burns Pens: Burns 3 |
Bristol got here from behind to safe a dramatic 26-26 draw with Leicester at Ashton Gate.
Semi Radradra and Charles Piutau scored for Bristol however a trio of tries from Dan Kelly, Chris Ashton and Julian Montoya gave Tigers a 23-12 lead.
Bryan Byrne minimize the deficit earlier than Tigers had Francois van Wyk despatched off.
Gabriel Ibitoye crossed to tie the rating earlier than Bristol’s AJ MacGinty missed a penalty to win the sport with the final kick of the match.
The draw ends a run of six consecutive defeats within the Premiership for Bristol however means they continue to be on the backside of the league desk on factors distinction behind London Irish, whereas Leicester transfer as much as fifth.
The Bears began on prime with Radradra – making his first begin since struggling a knee harm in April – taking solely 4 minutes to attain from shut vary, after Sam Lewis was stopped close to the road.
Bristol’s ill-discipline has been problematic all season although and so they conceded six penalties within the first 20 minutes, permitting Freddie Burns to kick Leicester forward with two penalties.
Nonetheless, Piutau adopted Radradra over the strive line to place the Bears again in entrance after a stellar passage of play which included a fast off-load from Ellis Genge and an extended move excessive from Callum Sheedy to pick the full-back.
However their lead was short-lived as Radradra was despatched to the sin-bin for a excessive deal with on Burns and Leicester responded with three fast tries.
Kelly, equally marking his return from a long-term harm, obtained the primary, crossing simply seconds after Radradra’s departure.
Leicester then patiently moved via the phases earlier than utilizing their width, permitting Ashton – certainly one of seven England internationals in Leicester’s again line – to run over, and Montoya added their third strive from a driving maul proper on half-time.
Bristol missed the prospect to attain seconds after the restart when Dan Thomas charged down a kick, whereas Deago Bailey’s toes had been simply in contact as he later dived over within the nook, earlier than Byrne lastly scored the hosts’ third strive from shut vary.
Van Wyk was proven a pink card for a harmful deal with on Genge within the build-up to the try to the person benefit swung the finale in Bristol’s favour.
Genge pounced on a unfastened ball which helped unleash Ibitoye down the wing to stage the rating with 5 minutes on the clock, earlier than MacGinty missed a match-winning penalty proper on the demise.
Bristol director of rugby Pat Lam advised BBC Radio Bristol:
“Very pleased with the boys, we began rather well after which we simply obtained for some cause on the flawed finish of the penalty depend – do not get me flawed, a few of them had been undoubtedly penalties however 10-0, I do not assume I have been in a recreation with a 10-0 penalty depend.
“What which means is you are double banking in your work, all of the sudden they have free entry into your half and also you’re defending.
“The yellow card, we conceded three tries, with some large defence however penalty after penalty.
“After half-time we talked about it, we had been down 11 factors and we nearly scored straight after half-time.
“However the boys’ character to maintain going and hold going, to then go 4 tries and have a chance to win it.”
Leicester Tigers head coach Steve Borthwick advised BBC Radio Leicester:
“I feel overriding within the altering room downstairs, there’s quite a lot of disappointment. With quarter-hour to go we had been 26-12 up, I feel we should always push on at that time, we appeared in numerous management.
“Sadly then a chance for area place for them after which a sending-off, after which the final quarter-hour grew to become tough.
“For a big a part of the sport I assumed we appeared accountable for it, I used to be actually happy. It was nice to see our squad coming collectively having now performed 9 video games, within the ninth recreation you are nearly nearly getting your squad collectively.
“There will be some good issues to tackle it and we’ll definitely look how we are able to handle that final a part of the sport higher.”
Bristol Bears: Piutau; Bailey, Radradra, O’Conor, Ibitoye;, Sheedy, Porter; Genge, Byrne, Lahiff, Batley, Vui, Luatua (c), Lewis, Heenan.
Replacements: Thacker, Woolmore, Tyack, Hawkins, Thomas, Uren, MacGinty, Jenkins.
Sin-bin: Radradra (28 minutes)
Leicester Tigers: Steward; Ashton, Porter, Kelly, Watson; Burns, Youngs; Whitcombe, Montoya, Cole, Wells, Chessum, Liebenberg (c), Reffell, Wiese.
Replacements: Clare, Van Wyk, Heyes, Snyman, Martin, Van Poortvliet, Atkinson, Potter.
Pink card: Van Wyk (64 minutes)
Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys.
