Match Report: Gallagher Premiership: Bristol Bears 29-17 Newcastle Falcons
Nathan Hughes was one of the try scorer of Bristol Bears
©PA
Bristol Bears 29-17 Newcastle Falcons, Ashton Gate
Scorecard
Bristol Bears managed to hold off Newcastle Falcons in the fifth round of the Gallagher Premiership as they completed a 29-17 win at Ashton Gate on Friday.
This is first defeat for Newcastle Falcons in five games as they are at third place in the table with 16 points while Bristol move to second with 20 points.
The home side raced off in just 43 seconds after Callum Sheedy intercepted a pass allowing Ratu Naulago to cross over. Sheedy kicked the conversion to take the scoreline 7-0.
Brilliant work from Toby Flood led Newcastle's response as George Wacokecoke dotted down for an unconverted try that reduced the gap down to two points but the home side doubled their tally with Charles Piutau going over the line after pouncing on a loose ball in the 18th minute that Sheedy improved.
The teams went into the break with a 14-10 scoreline with Mark Wilson crossing the whitewash at the stroke of half-time that came after Bristol lost Dave Atwood to sin-bin.
The home side got off the block early in the second half with Nathan Hughes finishing at the back of a line-out but his effort was cancelled out by Phillip Van Der Walt with a try in the 53rd minute as the scoreline became 21-17.
A forward pass denied Hughes of his second try but George Kloska with a touchdown ensured in the 59th minute ensured the home side claimed the bonus point. Sheedy missed the conversion but kicked a penalty in the closing stage ensured Pat Lam's side completed a 29-17 win.
Team line-up:
Bristol starting XV: Piutau; Naulago, Radradra, O'Conor, Lloyd; Sheedy, Uren; McCabe, Kloska, Armstrong, Attwood, Joyce, Luatua, Heenan, Hughes.
Reserves: Thompson, Turner, Sinckler, Hawkins, Harding, Randall, Leiua, Morahan.
Newcastle starting XV: Arscott; Radwan, Wacokecoke, Orlando, Stevenson; Flood, Stuart; Davison, Blamire, Mulipola, Peterson, Fuser, Robinson, Wilson, van der Walt.
Reserves: Maddison, Cooper, Tampin, Collett, Basham, Schreuder, Connon, Owen.
