A 14-man Gloucester Rugby frustrated Bristol Bears for the full 80 minutes but the top of the league side were too strong on the night and came away from Ashton Gate with the 39-7 win.
A Santiago Carreras try late in the first half was not enough compared to Bristol’s five scores which came through Max Malins, Charles Piutau, Ben Earl, Nathan Hughes and Semi Radradra.
What happened?
Gloucester Rugby stayed in the fight in the first half and showed true grit not to let Bristol dominate.
The home side were first to get the scoreboard through a Callum Sheedy penalty and it was the Welsh fly-half who slotted another penalty to extend the home side’s lead to 6-0 not long after.
Bristol struggled to execute and were unable to finish plenty of try scoring opportunities and seemed to be unable to make the final pass stick.
A length of the field effort was chalked off after the TMO ruled that Kyle Sinckler had dropped the ball on his way over the line.
Just as Gloucester Rugby were looking to start hitting back with some attack of their own, Matias Alemanno was red carded for a dangerous tackle.
Going down to 14 men seemed to gel the Cherry and Whites together and Bristol were held up over the line and stopped from scoring on a few occasions. However, stopping tries came at a cost and Val Rapava-Ruskin was yellow carded for a penalty at the scrum.
Down to 13 men for 10 minutes, the Cherry and Whites couldn’t stop the inevitable and Max Malins got over for the Bears with Sheedy’s conversion putting the home side 13-0 up.
Santiago Carreras put the Cherry and Whites on the scoreboard just before the break after collecting a perfect pass from Billy Twelvetrees to go over to score. Twelvetrees' conversion made it 13-7 at the break and the two sides were both still very much in the game after 40 minutes.
In the second half, Gloucester Rugby continued to smother Bristol and force knock ons and errors in the Bear’s game with the TMO ruling out seven Bristol attempts due to small errors but the flood could only be held back for so long.
Charles Piutau, Ben Earl, Nathan Hughes and Semi Radradra all got over in the second half, securing the bonus point and continuing Bristol’s reign at the top of the Gallagher Premiership.
Key moment – Kyle Moyle
In a true reflection of Gloucester Rugby’s character throughout the match, Kyle Moyle made an incredible try saving tackle to knock the ball out of Charles Piutau’s hands, stopping a further score from Bristol. The work rate to run back and make the tackle was symbolic of the effort put in by the full 23-man squad.
What’s next?
Gloucester Rugby are back in action on May 28 when the Cherry and Whites host London Irish at Kingsholm in a game which will see fans return to the stands.
Sheedy converts.
Semi Radradra gets over for Bristol Bears in the last play of the game.
Sheedy converts.
Nathan Hughes gets over for the Bears. The forwards kept picking and going and the No.8 got over the line.
Jamal Ford-Robinson is on for Rapava-Ruskin.
Conversion is good.
Ben Earl gets over for Bristol.
Heinz is off for Varney, Reid is off for Clement.
The TMO has seen a knock on and chalked off another Bristol try.
Singleton is off, on comes Henry Walker.
Heinz was just in front of the kicker.
Ollie Thorley is on for Kyle Moyle.
Ben Morgan is on for Ackermann, Jack Stanley is on for Balmain and Lloyd Evans is on for Kveseladze.
This time Bristol execute well and Charles Piutau gets over for the home side.
Bristol not rolling away. Twelvetrees puts in another great kick for the 6m lineout.
Again, Bristol pass the ball forward on their way to the line so their try is chalked off. We go back for a Gloucester Rugby scrum inside the Bristol half.
Bristol being forced into mistakes. The Bears bring on their from row replacements.
Solid work from Gloucester Rugby who keep smothering any Bristol attack.
Twelvetrees gets us underway.
Half time here at Ashton Gate.
Kyle Moyle knocks the ball out of Piutau's hands in a great try saving tackle.
Twelvetrees is accurate.
SANTIAGO CARRERAS! Gloucester Rugby drive well from the maul and Jordy Reid smashes forward to build momentum. Space is out wide and Carreras collects a perfect pass to get over.
Gloucester Rugby penalty. Twelvetrees puts the ball 5m out. Great kick.
We go back for a Gloucester Rugby scrum.
Have Bristol scored again? It looked like there was a knock on...
Gloucester Rugby offside.
Rapava-Ruskin returns from the bin. Back comes Kveseladze off comes Ford-Robinson.
Good shift at the scrum sees the Cherry and Whites win a penalty.
Great tackle from Santiago Carreras on Nathan Hughes. Bristol knock the ball on so it's a Cherry and White scrum.
Callum Sheedy converts.
Gloucester Rugby can't stop the inevitable. The backs whip the ball out and a Sheedy pass out the back sets Max Malins up who gets over to score.
Great effort to keep Bristol from scoring. Sheedy puts a kick through but Moyle collects and goes out meaning it's a Cherry and White 22 drop out.
Jamal Ford-Robinson is on. Off comes Kveseladze to make up the numbers.
Val Rapava-Ruskin is yellow carded for a penalty at the scrum.
Solid defence from Gloucester Rugby.
5m from the Cherry and White line.
Bristol crawl over the line so the try is not given for double movement. However, Bristol will restart with the penalty as Singleton is pinged.
Matias Alemanno is shown red for a dangerous tackle.
The TMO shows Sinckler drop the ball as he scores so the try is chalked off.
Bristol go the length of the field to score. Kyle Sinckler gets over the line, however the TMO is checking it...
Sheedy slots another penalty after Gloucester Rugby infringe at the breakdown.
Sheedy slots the kick.
Bears win a penalty at the scrum. Sheedy calls for the tee and will go for goal.
They hold the maul up and will have the put in to the scrum.
Not releasing from Bristol. Twelvetrees goes to corner... Lineout 7m out to the Cherry and Whites.
Bristol crossing in attack so Twelvetrees goes to touch from the penalty.
Here we go! Sheedy gets us underway here at Ashton Gate.
Just half an hour to go until kick off!
Good evening and welcome to Ashton Gate! Supporters are back in the stands and are already in full voice. Live updates to follow. Kick off 19:45.