REPORT: Leicester Tigers 50-17 Bristol Rugby

Aaron Mauger's side ran in eight tries to seal a bonus-point win, with JP Pietersen scoring twice and Adam Thompstone, Telusa Veainu, Pat Cilliers, Greg Bateman, Brandon O'Connor and Owen Williams also crossing for the hosts. Rob Hawkins and Jamal Ford-Robinson scored consolation tries for Bristol either side of half time, with Jason Woodward adding two conversions and a penalty.

What happened?

Jason Woodward’s sixth-minute penalty had fired Bristol into the lead at Welford Road after an early spell of Tigers pressure went unrewarded. But the home side weren’t to be denied for too long as prop Pat Cilliers shook off a weak tackle to touch down.

Owen Williams’ conversion drifted wide but the fly half made amends on 12 minutes, wrestling his way through the midfield to score before converting his own try.

Williams then turned provider not once, but twice – firing over a cross-kick for JP Pietersen to dab down before delivering a delicate inside pass to Telusa Veainu, who powered over from close range.

POINTS: Jason Woodward fires over a sixth-minute penalty for Bristol (Photo: JMP UK).

Tigers were now in full flow and Veainu was back in the action minutes later, breaking from deep after Jarvis had missed touch and feeding Pietersen for his second of a one-sided first half.

Mark Tainton’s side gave themselves a lifeline on the stroke of half-time when Rob Hawkins clattered his way over after Wallace and Woodward had worked an opening on the left-hand side – Woodward’s conversion made it 31-10 at the interval.

But Tigers dominant streak continued after the break, as Brandon O’Connor charged down Tusi Pisi’s attempted clearance before racing on to the loose ball for the hosts' sixth.

RUMBLE: Rob Hawkins smashes over for a try on the stroke of half time (Photo: JMP UK).

Sam Harrison’s blindside snipe saw Adam Thompstone cross for Tigers’ seventh just before the hour mark – and replacement Greg Bateman added an eighth at the back of a rolling maul.

Jamal Ford-Robinson gave the travelling support something to cheer when he charged down Sam Harrison’s clearance and won the race to the loose ball - but it was mere consolation for Bristol, who left Welford Road empty-handed.

Key moment:

Bristol were left to rue another sluggish start and found themselves 30 points down inside 30 minutes, a scoreline from which there was no coming back, despite Rob Hawkins scoring before half time.   

Photo of the match:

CONSOLATION: Jamal Ford-Robinson touches down after charging down Sam Harrison's kick (Photo: JMP UK). 

Man of the match: Jason Woodward

The full-back was one of Bristol's few bright sparks on a disappointing afternoon for Mark Tainton's side. Woodward showed his class on numerous occasions, breaking from deep and also having a hand in Rob Hawkin's 40th minute try. The Kiwi also kicked seven points. 

Social media post of the day:

The teams:

Bristol Rugby: Jason Woodward; Jack Wallace, Siale Piutau (Henson 65), Tusi Pisi, Thretton Palamo; Adrian Jarvis (Hurrell 40), Will Cliff (Mathewson 46); Ryan Bevington (O’Connell 70), Rob Hawkins, Gaston Cortes (Ford-Robinson 40), Dan Tuohy, Mark Sorenson (Phillips 63), Mitch Eadie, Jack Lam, Jordan Crane (c) (Jeffries 65).

Replacements: Marc Jones, Jack O’Connell, Jamal Ford-Robinson, James Phillips, Sam Jeffries, Alby Mathewson, Gavin Henson, Will Hurrell.

Leicester Tigers: Telusa Veainu, Adam Thompstone, Jack Roberts, Maxime Mermoz , JP Pietersen, Owen Williams, Sam Harrison; Michele Rizzo, Tom Youngs (c), Pat Cilliers, Dom Barrow, Mike Fitzgerald, Mike Williams, Brendon O'Connor, Luke Hamilton.

Replacements: George McGuigan, Ellis Genge, Greg Bateman, Tom Croft, Harry Thacker, Jono Kitto, Mathew Tait, Matt Smith..