Hungry Bears are challenging Chiefs as best in the West

IS the epicentre of South West rugby starting to move up the M5 or was Saturday’s 20-7 victory against Exeter just a tremor? It is an inevitable question to ask, especially since it is the second consecutive year Bristol have beaten Exeter on their formidable home patch and the worse home defeat inflicted upon them in four years.

But even though it was perhaps the Bears’ most clinical performance to date, it wasn’t long ago we succumbed to an Exeter reserve team and had to dig deep to beat a well-organised and committed Newcastle side. No doubt, Chiefs’ fans will be quick to remind us the true test of greatness is be consistent over a longer period of time. Rather, I see it as more of a shot across the bows of Exeter’s deserved regional, national and European dominance, signalling to all and sundry that if you hadn’t realised it yet, the Bears have got their feet under the top table and are hungry to sample the fare on offer.

But this is not to downplay the significance of the Bristol performance. To shut out the European and domestic champions in the second half was a heroic feat and was created from a simple recipe of work-rate, desire and composed decision-making under pressure.

The defence was rock-solid and, although it seems wrong to pick out individuals after such a fantastic collective effort, it would be remiss not to mention Harry Randall, who was simply superb. The pocketrocket blasted himself all over the pitch and has noticeably improved all facets of his game this season. His passing is crisper, his box-kicking more accurate and his gamemanagement more consistent. He is like a supercharged Duracell bunny with the skills of a Jedi! Only that can explain why he emerged with the ball from underneath our firsthalf rolling maul try and how he was able to rise like Lazarus late in the second half to tackle a Chiefs raider moments after receiving treatment on the floor.

If the watching Eddie Jones needed something to warm his cockles, then Randall’s performance was that and it seems hard to imagine that it won’t be long before we see him named in an England squad. Come on Bris!

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