CLINCHER FOR MALINS AS BEARS ROAR HOME
HARRY RANDALL’S try after just 15 seconds and a wonderful solo strike by Max Malins propelled Bristol to a maiden European title last night — and may have opened the door to a shock double. Pat Lam’s West Country side made an electric start to the Challenge Cup final at Stade Maurice David in Aix-en-Provence and withstood a fightback by mighty Toulon to claim the secondary European prize. They did so hours after Premiership Rugby confirmed Bristol are on stand-by to appear in the league final at Twickenham in a week’s time. With Wasps awaiting further tests this weekend to see if their Covid outbreak has spread, the team they beat 47-24 in Coventry seven days ago could find themselves taking on Exeter in the domestic showpiece by virtue of finishing third in the table. So last night’s momentous feat — underpinned by Callum Sheedy’s 22 points with the boot — may not represent the end of Bristol’s season. They ignited this final in spectacular fashion, straight from the kick-off, which fell to Semi Radradra. The Bears’ Fijian magician set the wheels in motion for a magnificent long-range try. He veered left and passed outside for Alapati Leiua to burst clear. The wing returned the ball to Radradra and he released Randall, allowing the scrum-half to surge away to the line. Sheedy’s conversion and a penalty soon after put Lam’s side 10-0 up, but Toulon were gifted a simple chance to hit back in the 11th minute. Randall slipped, spilled the ball and was punished, with Bryce Heem taking a pass to claim an opportunist’s try on the right. Louis Carbonel converted. Lam’s men appeared unfazed by the setback but Carbonel was on target again for Toulon, and two further penalties allowed his team to go into half-time with a 16-10 lead. After the break, the game became disjointed, but Bristol were able to take advantage of disciplinary lapses and Sheedy’s three penalties, to one by Carbonel, levelled the scores before Malins’ intervention. A slight gap opened and the full-back accelerated between Toulon’s flailing centres to score, with Sheedy adding the extras. The new Wales playmaker clinched the win when he struck two penalties in the last five minutes.
● SOUTH AFRICA could go into next year’s Lions tour without playing a game for 20 months after they withdrew from the Rugby Championship. The world champions cited complications over Covid-19 protocols and fears about player welfare.