Bristol Bears shine in the sunshine at Harlequins but are denied a chance at silverware

Bristol Bears ended their 2023/24 season with arguably their best run of the campaign with a relentless 53-28 thrashing of Harlequins on their own turf, but results elsewhere meant their rise up the table fell flat before reaching the semi-finals.

Bristol ran in seven tries to secure their biggest win at The Stoop during Pat Lam’s tenure at the club to give themselves the best possible chance of a top-four finish, but Sale Sharks’ 20- -10 to Saracens meant Bears. finished fifth.

READ MORE: Harlequins 28-53 Bristol Bears LIVE reaction as Bears miss semi-finals

The Bears led 21-14 at the break with James Williams, Ellis Genge and Gabriel Ibitoye all crossing. Those scores came at a price though, with Benhard Janse van Rensburg, Callum Sheedy and Genge forced off before the break. England recovery Genge finished the game on crutches and in a walking boot after pulling his calf, which will concern head coach Steve Borthwick ahead of the summer tour to New Zealand

Harlequins scored two tries through the almost unstoppable Chandler Cunningham-South and Alex Dombrandt. Early in the second half, Harry Thacker brought Bristol’s bonus point into question, but Quins responded through Luke Northmore before a second Cunningham-South try gave them the lead for the first time in the game. But Williams’ boot and tries from Max Lahiff, Noah Heward and Gabriel Oghre allowed Bristol to take the lead and stretch clear, even if it wasn’t enough to crack the top four.

Lam’s side could not have asked for a better start, with former Quins academy graduate Ibitoye running down the left before Williams crossed after 55 seconds. Sheedy, who went straight into the starting line-up in place of AJ MacGinty, who was ruled out with a knock to the head last week, converted from the touchline.

Janse van Rensburg limped off after the restart with a hip injury following a huge attack from Cunningham-South and Quins equalized when the off Andre Esterhuizen burst through a hole before Cunningham-South received a smart pass from Alex Dombrandt to score under the posts. .

Genge’s cross after a wonderful offload by the Bears created space to allow the loosehead to drop a fake pass that fooled three Harlequins defenders and opened a door for him to speed through. Prop had a close second shortly after, but the score was ruled out for a foul by Thacker in the build-up.

Instead, Quins equalized through Dombrandt, who powered over in the corner, with Marcus Smith converting from the touchline. A loose ball at midfield then allowed Ibitoye to gather himself and stretch his legs and run in a third to make it 21-14 for the visitors.

Genge and Sheedy departed in the same spell before the break as Bristol survived defending with just 13 men on the line, but the Bears flew out of the blocks in the second half as Thacker scored with a routine maul score.

Harlequins roared back, bringing back memories of their famous 28-point comeback in the semi-final meeting between these sides three years ago at Ashton Gate. Northmore showed brilliant football skills for the third try before Cunningham-South headed over for the bonus point try to make it 28-26 for the hosts.

But a penalty from Williams restored Bristol’s lead before Lahiff slotted home from close range with an impressive display of strength after a Max Malins burst at fly-half in Sheedy’s absence.

The momentum had shifted for good with Williams knocking over another penalty before Heward finished off a try which was again set up by a Malins break.

Harlequins had nothing left to give and Bristol brought up a half-century of points with another maul try, this time through Oghre to cap off a stunning display on the road, but at the final whistle the players on the field found out that their efforts did not have. it was enough to extend the season into the playoffs, however, there is no doubt that the Bears are on the rise again.

Harlequins: 15 Tyrone Green, 14 Louis Lynagh, 13 Luke Northmore, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Oscar Beard, 10 Marcus Smit, 9 Danny Care, 1 Fin Baxter, 2 Jack Walker, 3 Will Collier, 4 Irne Herbst, 5 Stephan Lewies (c) , 6 Chandler Cunningham-South, 7 Will Evans, 8 Alex Dombrandt

Substitutes: 16 Sam Riley, 17 Simon Kerrod, 18 Dillon Lewis, 19 George Hammond, 20 James Chisholm, 21 Will Porter, 22 Jarrod Evans, 23 Will Joseph

Bristol Bears : 15 Max Malins, 14 Noah Heward, 13 Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 12 James Williams, 11 Gabriel Ibitoye, 10 Callum Sheedy, 9 Harry Randall; 1 Ellis Genge, 2 Harry Thacker, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 4 James Dun, 5 Joe Batley, 6 Steven Luatua, 7 Fitz Harding (c), 8 Magnus Bradbury

Replacements: 1 6 Gabriel Oghre, 17 Jake Woolmore, 18 Max Lahiff, 19 Josh Caulfield, 20 Ben Grondona, 21 Kieran Marmion, 22 Virimi Vakatawa, Siva Naulago

Referee: Christopher Ridley

Assistant referees: Anthony Woodthorpe and Andrew Jackson

TMO: Ian Tempest