Author

Will Carpenter writes

Posted Sunday, October 18th 2020 @bristolsportwkc

Stat attack: RC Toulon 19-32 Bristol Bears

Sunday, October 18th 2020

Sheedy's big match performance, Bears' dominant tournament and Randall's record-breaking try. Check out the best of the match stats from Friday's Challenge Cup final victory over RC Toulon at Stade Maurice-David.

Sheedy, cup finals and the number 22

Eight kicks from eight, 22 points and yet another match-winning display from a fly half whose stock continues to rise in the Northern Hemisphere.

Callum Sheedy was outstanding for Pat Lam's side once again on Friday night - managing the game expertly and ticking the scoreboard over with a flawless display from the tee. Six penalties and two conversions accompanied tries from Harry Randall and Max Malins.

The last time Sheedy played in a final for Bristol - May 2016 vs Doncaster Knight, Championship play-off final second leg - the number ten kicked six penalties and two conversions to finish with a 22-point haul. Identical - albeit on a far bigger stage.

Top of the charts

It was very fitting that the Bears would rally after half time to see off Toulon and take the European Challenge Cup title, having dominated almost every statistical category in the competitions.

As well as being the eventual winners, Pat Lam's side finished first in the following categories: Tries (40), points (334), carries (1311), penalty goals (20), conversions (37), clean breaks (157), defenders beaten (275), lineouts won (121), metres (4,929) and offloads (106).

Dominant.

The reaction at the whistle 😃

VICTORY SATURDAYS! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/f5lzIy8X43
— Bristol Bears (@BristolBears) October 17, 2020

Out of the blocks

It was a quite sensational start to Friday's Challenge Cup final, even by Bristol Bears' standards.

Harry Randall's try, after just 15.64 seconds, is the fastest ever try in European competitions and set the Bears on their way to a maiden European title.

Rugby statistician, Stu Farme confirmed Randall's record on Twitter, adding that Tyler Morgan's try for Dragons in 2016 was the fastest individual try, scoring 13 seconds AFTER entering the field as a replacement.