Report: Leicester Tigers 46-24 Bristol Bears

Saturday, March 25th 2023

Bristol Bears fell to a first league defeat in five games at Mattioli Woods Welford Road on Saturday, as Handre Pollard's 19-point haul sealed victory for the hosts.

Pat Lam's side led through Harry Thacker after James Williams' break, but a Ben Youngs score and Anthony Watson's try from Handre Pollard's cross-field kick made it 15-10.

Gabriel Ibitoye raced through to put the visitors ahead after the break, after Steven Luatua's charge down and Williams' deft kick ahead.

But Tigers responded in style, with two Julian Montoya scores and Pollard and Charlie Clare tries ensuring victory.

It's end-to-end stuff 😅

🐯 22-17 🐻 (56 mins)#LEIvBRI | #BristolBears pic.twitter.com/ZdwLoxXyfB
— Bristol Bears 🐻 (@BristolBears) March 25, 2023

An end-to-end finale rounded off a hard-fought contest, with Harry Randall applying a classy finish late on, but it wasn't enough to prevent the Bears from leaving empty-handed.

Bristol Bears: Piutau, Lloyd, Radradra, Williams, Ibitoye, MacGinty, Randall (cc); Y Thomas, Thacker, Lahiff, Bradbury, Vui, Luatua (cc), Lewis, Harding.

Replacements: Davies, Genge, Kloska, Heenan, Thomas, Uren, Bedlow, Heward.

Leicester Tigers: Brown; Watson, Scott, Gopperth, Potter; Pollard, Youngs; West, Montoya (capt), Heyes, Martin, Henderson, Libenberg, Cracknell, Wiese.

Replacements:Clare, Cornin, Cole, Snyman, Reffell, van Poortvliet, Atkinson, Steward.