Rugby / Bristol Bears
Record European crowd sees Bears beaten by Bulls
The Vodacom Bulls made the 5,600-mile journey from Pretoria to Bristol on Saturday, where they were watched by a record crowd for a European fixture at Ashton Gate.
The occasion was the Champions Cup which from last season has included the best teams from South Africa facing the best teams from across Europe.
19,040 rugby fans made their way to BS3 to see the Bulls win by 31 points to 17.
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AJ MacGinty kicks for goal in front of a record European crowd at Ashton Gate – photo: JMP
The referee was Frenchman Mathieu Raynal, who rugby fans will likely see much more of when this year’s Six Nations kicks off in February.
Raynal was at the centre of attention with almost half an hour gone in the first half after initially awarding a try to the Bulls but then ruling it out thanks to James Williams just managing to dislodge the ball in-goal.
The Bulls scored first through Sergeal Petersen but Bears soon pulled it back with a try from Kieran Marmion.
https://twitter.com/rugbyontnt/status/1746196604137205985
The Bears began the second half trailing by seven points to ten and conceded their next try with Max Lahiff in the sin-bin as his opposite number in the front row, Khutha Mchunu, crossed the line from close range.
The Bulls played some of the best running rugby seen at Ashton Gate in recent years, with their third try being scored by Elrigh Louw, and their bonus-point try following shortly afterwards thanks to an interception from Jan-Hendrik Wessels.
The record European crowd continued to roar the Bears on and they were rewarded with a try in the corner by Gabriel Ibitoye and another by Magnus Bradbury with the last play of the game.
But they were both only consolation scores with the Bulls making the long flight back to the South African capital after victory in BS3.
https://twitter.com/BristolBears/status/1746216723773063498
Main photo: JMP
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