Report: Bristol Bears 30-12 Newcastle Falcons

The back-row forward snatched a turnover five metres from the Falcons line with the clock in the red before powering his way to the line to seal maximum points for Pat Lam's men on a drizzly night in BS3.

Harry Randall scored in either half for the Bears - applying the finishing touches to AJ MacGinty's break for his first, and then burrowing under the Falcons' fringe defence for his second just minutes after half time.

Chris Vui also found his way to the whitewash during the first half, while two James Williams penalties kept the scoreboard ticking over.

Siri, show me 𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘂𝗺 🤯#BRIvNEW | #BristolBears pic.twitter.com/3KFCfF021w

— Bristol Bears 🐻 (@BristolBears) February 17, 2023

Falcons bagged two tries of their own courtesy of Gary Graham and Jamie Blamire, but it was Harding's interventions - once in the first half, heroically holding up Graham in the corner - and then in the dying embers, that sealed an important win for the Bears. 

Bristol Bears: Tries: Randall 9, 43, Vui 21, Harding 80. Cons: Williams 21, 43. Pens: Williams 40, 69. Yellow: Ibitoye 57

Newcastle Falcons: Tries: Graham 17, Blamire 59. Cons: Connon 17

Bristol Bears: Heward, Naulago, Radradra, Williams, Ibitoye, MacGinty, Randall; Woolmore, Thacker, Lahiff, Batley, Vui, Luatua (c), Harding, Bradbury.

Replacements: Davies, Y. Thomas, Kloska, Holmes, Heenan, Uren, Ascherl, Lloyd.

Newcastle: Penny, Radwan, Stevenson, Orlando, Carreras, Connon, Young (c); Brocklebank, Blamire, Davison, Peterson, De Chaves, Graham, Chick, Fearns.

Replacements: Fletcher, Mulipola, Palframan, Van der Walt, Lockwood, Stuart, Schoeman, Tait.