Emphatic first 40 sets Bristol up for big win
PAT Lam called for a big response from his players after last week’s defeat to Worcester and the head coach got just that with a seven-try win over Zebre.
An explosive first half was the catalyst as the home side scored six times in an exhilarating opening 40 – with the bonus point in the bag after 22 minutes.
Ryan Edwards touched down for a first-half brace, while Alapati Leiua, Nick Haining and Jake Armstrong were also on the scoresheet for Bristol, who raced into a 36-10 lead at the interval.
Eduardo Bello and Tommaso Castello gave Zebre a lifeline with tries either side of the break, but Andy Uren’s 64thminute score made the game safe before Tommaso Boni grabbed a late consolation for Zebre.
Head coach Lam said: “In the first half hour there was some great rugby and we showed what we can do when we play as a team.
“Getting the win with the bonus point was a real positive, but we need to try and replicate what we did in that first 30 minutes for longer periods.”
It took Bristol just eight minutes to open the scoring through Leiua, who sliced through the heart of the defence to score under the posts.
Francois Brummer got Zebre on the board with a penalty, but Bristol were soon in for their second try as Will Hurrell put Edwards in at the corner.
Already two tries down, Zebre were soon a man down with Giovanbattista Venditti binned for a deliberate knock on. From the resulting penalty and lineout, Joe Latta powered over to extend the home side’s lead.
Nick Haining sealed the bonus-point two minutes later, before Edwards grabbed his second after a sensational break and pass from Callum Sheedy.
Bello had a strong Zebre maul to thank for his try two minutes before half-time, but that was immediately cancelled out in identical fashion by Jake Armstrong’s first try in Bristol colours.
Castello latched on to Brummer’s deft grubber kick early in the second half before Sheedy saw yellow for a deliberate knock on.
But it mattered little as Andy Uren sprinted away to score Bristol’s seventh and final try on 65 minutes to wrap up a comprehensive home win for Lam’s men.