Leicester moved to the top of the PREM table with a bonus-point 22-16 victory over Bristol at Ashton Gate in an error-ridden game. Tigers took advantage of Bristol having two men in the sin-bin to score 10 points in their absence, which ultimately proved the difference. Leicester’s tries came from Freddie Steward, Adam Radwin, Ollie Hassell-Collins and Jamie Blamire, with Billy Searle adding one conversion. Louis Rees-Zammit scored the Bears’ only try, with James Williams adding three penalties and a conversion to secure a losing bonus point.
Bristol took a sixth-minute lead thanks to a solo effort from the Welsh flyer Rees-Zammit. The wing received possession 35 metres out from the try-line, but from an unpromising position, he skipped past two defenders to race in under the posts. Leicester’s response was swift with bursts from Finn Carduff and Cameron Henderson putting the defence on the back foot before a well-judged cross-field kick from Searle saw Steward collect to crash over. Minutes later, the visitors looked to have taken the lead when their skipper Ollie Chessum forced his way over, but TMO replays showed the ball had gone forward when Aaron Wainwright’s penetrative run was brought to an end.
Bristol also came close when Rees-Zammit was presented with another opportunity but under pressure from the challenge of Tom Whiteley, he just failed to collect his own kick ahead as the line beckoned. The hosts then suffered two blows in quick succession when centre Mathias Moroni and full-back Tom Jordan were both yellow carded for dangerous challenges. Leicester capitalised when an alert Searle sent a long kick deep into the opposition 22 with Radwan showing exceptional speed to be first to the ball and touch down. Radwan almost had another when he chased another kick ahead, but this time he failed to gather so the Tigers had to be content with a 12-7 interval lead.
Ninety seconds after the restart, Leicester extended their advantage when another cross-field kick found Hassell-Collins in acres of space to score his side’s third. Bristol were brought back to full strength before Williams reduced the arrears with a straightforward penalty. Basic handling errors from Radwan and replacement Will Wand gave the Bears the chance to build an attacking platform, but they were too frenetic to benefit until Williams knocked over a second penalty. The game hung in the balance but the away pack produced an unstoppable line-out drive for Blamire to secure the bonus point, with Searle missing his third conversion to keep the home side in the hunt.
A third penalty from Williams, seven minutes from time, set up a tense finish, but the Tigers held on for a deserved victory despite Searle hitting a post with a last-minute penalty.
