Second half blitz secure 34-16 win for Bristol Bears over Gloucester

Bristol Bears 34-16 Gloucester Rugby, Ashton Gate
Scorecard

Bristol Bears scored three second half tries as they went on to beat Gloucester Rugby 34-16 in the ninth round of the Gallagher Premiership at Ashton Gate on Saturday.

The win has taken Bristol to fifth place with 22 points while Gloucester are at fourth with 23 points.

The opening 30 minutes of the game saw Owen Williams and Callum Sheedy kick three penalties apiece as the teams had their scores levelled 9-9.

Playing in front of almost 19000 spectators, Sheedy kicked two more three pointers at the stroke of half time to provide the home side with six-point lead at the end of the first half.

Bristol were quick to get off the block in the second half with Purdy on debut crossed the whitewash in the 45th minute and Sheedy followed with the conversion to increase their lead to 13 points and there was no looking for Pat Lam's side as they managed two more tries from Luke Morahan and Matt Protheroe in the 69th and 73rd minutes respectively to take their tally to 34 points.

Freddie Clarke scored a consolation try for the Cherry and Whites in the closing stage but that could not prevent Bristol from completing a 18-point victory despite Purdy's sin-bin in the final minute.

"We controlled possession and we controlled territory which takes it toll eventually, we knew the stats show they're extremely strong in the second half this year," said Pat Lam.

"We talked at half-time that they needed to be prepared to lift our efforts another level and the boys did that. I was frustrated with the last five minutes, we should have come home strong.

"The forward pack, that's the key, to play the game you need to earn the right to go forward, going off front-foot ball. Those are things we weren't doing previously."