Leiua wraps it up for Bristol

BRISTOL made a dream return to the Gallagher Premiership as they toppled Bath on a recordbreaking night at Ashton Gate.

Fly-half Ian Madigan’s four penalties and a late Alapati Leiua try proved enough, with a 26,000 crowd – Bristol’s biggest home attendance – roaring them to victory.

Bath fought back from nine points adrift

BRISTOL BEARS

to lead when full-back Tom Homer scored a second-half try and Rhys Priestland kicked a conversion and penalty.

But the visitors were ultimately punished for a terrible 15th-minute blunder when an unmarked Homer remarkably failed to ground the ball after crossing Bristol’s line. Bristol, last season’s Championship winners, were indebted to huge performances from the likes of skipper Steven Luatua and lock Chris Vui, while Madigan missed just one kick off the tee, keeping his composure amid intense pressure.

Bristol’s big break came when Priestland delivered a scoring pass to Homer. Referee JP Doyle initially awarded the try, but then consulted with his television match official as video footage showed Homer had missed the soccer equivalent of an open goal, although Priestland could have scored himself and did not need to pass.

Leiua then made Bath pay and sealed the deal through a brilliant finish eight minutes from time, leaving Bath with a losing bonus point, but precious little else.