Bristol crush Pau with nine-try European rout

Bristol Bears 61-12 Section-Paloise, Ashton Gate

Bristol Bears produced a stunning attacking display at Ashton Gate, running in nine tries to secure a record-breaking Investec Champions Cup victory over Section Paloise.

Pat Lam’s side were relentless from the opening whistle, storming to a 33-0 half-time lead before completing a dominant win to make it two victories from two in the pool stage.

The Bears set the tone inside the opening two minutes. Ellis Genge finished off a slick length-of-the-field move, powering over for the opening try and Tom Jordan followed with the conversion.

Bristol continued to apply pressure and were rewarded again when captain Fitz Harding burst through midfield and fed Benjamin Grondona, who crossed untouched making it 14-0.

Grondona soon turned provider. After another strong carry, he released Kieran Marmion in support, with the scrum-half grounding the ball to become Bristol’s leading try scorer in the Investec Champions Cup.

The hosts showed no signs of slowing, and Kalaveti Ravouvou secured the bonus point on 36 minutes after Benhard Janse van Rensburg sliced through the defence and delivered a perfectly timed pass. Gabriel Oghre then capped an outstanding first half, driving over from a rolling maul to make it 33-0 at the break.

Bristol picked up where they left off. Janse van Rensburg gathered Marmion’s chip ahead to score under the posts, before Joe Batley finished a flowing team move that involved several phases and sharp handling making it 47-0.

Section Paloise finally got on the board through Pierre Brau-Boirie, but Bristol remained firmly in control.

Santiago Grondona added another when he pounced on a loose ball close to the line, after Academy winger Aidan Boshoff marked his Champions Cup debut try by bursting through a gap and sprinting clear under the posts.

Brau-Boirie grabbed a late second for the visitors, but it did little to dent a memorable night for the Bears, who sealed their biggest-ever win in Europe’s top competition.

Team line up:

Bristol: Elizalde; Ravouvou, Janse van Rensburg, Williams, Boshoff; Jordan, Marmion; Genge, Oghre, Chawatama, Rubiolo, Batley, Owen, B Grondona, Harding.

Reserves: Thacker, Woolmore, Halliwell, S Grondona, Ivanishvili, Wolstenholme, Worsley, Carrington.

Pau: Luc; Grandidier Nkanang, Brau-Boirie, Valentino, Carol; Mondinat, Robson; Bibi Biziwu, Rey, Tokolahi, Jolmes, Capelli, Kpoku, Paul, Tuipulotu.

Reserves: Delhommel, Seneca, Zabala Arrieta, Picquette, Credoz, Souverbie, Decron, Hewat.