Bristol Bears Thrill Fans In 52-38 Win Over Exeter Chiefs

Bristol Bears delivered an electrifying performance at Ashton Gate, defeating Exeter Chiefs 52-38 in a thrilling Gallagher Premiership encounter. The match, held on March 22, 2025, featured a total of fourteen tries as both teams engaged in a display of high-octane rugby. The Bears kept their title ambitions alive while the Chiefs battled against relegation.

The game opened at a frenetic pace, with Bears securing a bonus point in just 16 minutes—narrowly missing out on the Premiership record of 14 minutes set by Northampton. Jack Bates initiated the scoring by crossing the line within the first two minutes, marking the start of a remarkable hat-trick that would see him celebrate his 50th appearance for the club in style. In total, Bates’ contributions were bolstered by James Williams, who added two tries, and other scores from Benhard Janse van Rensburg, Harry Randall, and Steve Luatua.

Despite the early struggles, Exeter Chiefs fought back with tries from Martin Moloney, Henry Slade, Dafydd Jenkins, Josh Hodge, Jack Yeandle, and Will Rigg. However, the Chiefs could not find a way to control the Bears' thrilling attacking style, finishing the match with their tenth loss of the season. Rob Baxter, the Chiefs' director of rugby, emphasized the resilience shown by his side, despite the scoreline.

The match did not come without controversy, as a key moment occurred when Bristol's Santiago Grondona was issued a red card for a head-on-head collision in the 29th minute with Martin Moloney, leaving the Bears a man down for much of the contest yet they managed to maintain their momentum.

Bristol’s director of rugby, Pat Lam, was clear on the changes that infused life into his squad, specifically praising returning players like Williams and the fresh contribution from Leinster loanee Harry Byrne. Lam spoke about coming into the match stronger than before the international break, which involved key England internationals returning to the fold. This proved to be significant in Bristol’s overall performance as the team adapted quickly to their lead.

With a crowd of 20,408 spectators at Ashton Gate, the excitement was palpable right from the kick-off. Within 88 seconds, Bates pounced on a disorganized Chiefs' defence to score the Bears' first try. Exeter quickly countered through Martin Moloney, keeping the match in the balance early on, with both teams exchanging tries in a high-scoring opening.

After the early flurry, Bristol started to assert their dominance. Following the Bears’ second try from Williams, Janse van Rensburg managed to cut through the defence for another score, bringing the Bears to a total of five tries in quick succession by the first 16 minutes. The Chiefs managed to claw back with Skipper Dafydd Jenkins scoring before Bristol led at half-time by 40-24 after a first half that broke records in terms of scoring.

As the second half unfolded, Bristol looked to consolidate their lead quickly. Steve Luatua came off the bench to score shortly after the break. Bates then completed his hat-trick, showcasing his abilities with confidence after an assist from Randall. With the score at 52-24, the Bears started to ease up, allowing for late consolation tries from Exeter through Yeandle and Rigg. Yet, the evening belonged to Bristol as they looked forward to upcoming matches in the league.

Reflecting on the game, Bates commented, "Fun and very exhausting. It was a bit like a game of tennis, we were scoring, they were scoring. Then we came together and were like 'let's just take control of it, go through the phases and then the opportunities will open up.'" His sentiments underscored the chaotic nature of the encounter with both teams continuously exchanging points.

In terms of attendance, the game saw a significant turnout, featuring fans eager to witness the excitement that Gallagher Premiership rugby promises. The stakes were high for both clubs; while Bristol secured a vital win to keep the pressure on league leaders Bath, Exeter's struggles continued to grow as they battled to stay afloat in the league.

As the season continues, both teams will aim to sharpen their performances; Bristol with aspirations to challenge for the top spot, and Exeter needing to find ways to harness their potential and convert chances into wins. The excitement of the rugby season remains as both teams look ahead in a crowded and competitive Premiership landscape.