Bristol Bears scored three converted tries in the final 10 minutes of the game to secure a dramatic 21-19 away victory over Leicester Tigers in the Premiership on Saturday.
The Bears were 19-0 down at Welford Road going into the final stages of the game, but Ollie Hassell-Collins scored two of Leicester’s three tries to keep their fading top-four hopes alive. It looked like it would hold.
But despite a red card for Leicester’s Mike Brown, Max Life scored twice for Bristol and Magnus Bradbury’s try added a final twist as they moved ahead of Harlequins on goal difference. Maintained 4th place in the league.
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Bristol were forced to make late changes as Rich Lane replaced Max Mullins at full-back and Piers O’Connor came on as a substitute.
The visitors paid the price for their team’s lack of discipline as they conceded a flurry of penalties early on, with Gabriel Ibitoye sent to the sin bin in the 16th minute, but it didn’t take long for Leicester to finally score.
From the ruck, Jacques van Poeltvliet passed to Dan Kelly, whose long pass drew Hassell Collins in space and finished on the left, where Handre Pollard converted from the outside.
The hosts then lost their one-man advantage when Brown was shown a yellow card by referee Matt Curley for altercation after the hosts were awarded a penalty.
Bristol thought they had hit back with hooker Gabriel Oga running the ball through from a short lineout, but the goal was disallowed as Ellis Genge’s return pass flew forward.
This allowed Leicester to go into half-time with a 7-0 lead, but shortly after the restart, a good tackle from Joe Batley knocked the ball out of the hands of the charging Jasper Wiese, allowing the hosts to No counterattack was allowed.
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However, the Tigers scored their second try in the 48th minute when the ball passed through the hands of Kelly and Pollard and a pass from Freddie Steward found Hassell Collins coming close for a corner again.
The hosts made the lead 19-0 in the 65th minute when substitute prop François van Wyk forced a goal from close range and Pollard converted.
However, as Rahif broke through Leicester’s previously resolute defence, Bristol finally got things going.
The hosts were then reduced to 14 men after Brown was sent off with a second yellow card for a head-on collision with Benhard Janse van Rensburg.
Then, with five minutes remaining, Rahif made another comeback for the Bears, and AJ McGinty’s conversion cut the gap to five points, ensuring a big finish.
Incredibly, the visiting team snatched the victory on the final play. Bradbury almost got the ball close to the post and McGinty’s conversion completed a stunning comeback.
team
Leicester Tigers: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Mike Brown, 13 Matt Scott, 12 Dan Kelly, 11 Ollie Hassell-Collins, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Jacques van Poortvliet, 8 Jasper Wies, 7 Tommy Leffel, 6 Hanro Liebenberg, 5 Ollie Chetham, 4 George Martin, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Julián Montoya, 1 James Cronin.
Replacement: 16 Charlie Clare, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Will Hurd, 19 Harry Wells, 20 Ollie Cracknell, 21 Tom Whiteley, 22 Jamie Silcock, 23 Phil Cokanasiga
Bristol Bears: 15 Max Mullins, 14 Siva Naurago, 13 Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 12 James Williams, 11 Gabriel Ibitoy, 10 AJ McGinty, 9 Harry Randall, 8 Magnus Bradbury, 7 Fitz Harding ( c), 6 Stephen Ruatua, 5 Joe Batley, 4 James Dunn, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 2 Gabriel Oga, 1 Ellis Genge
Replacement: 16 Harry Tucker, 17 Jake Woolmore, 18 Max Reicheff, 19 Josh Caulfield, 20 Jake Heenan, 21 Kieran Marmion, 22 Virimi Vakatawa, 23 Rich Lane
Referee: Matthew Curley
Assistant referee: Jack Makepeace, Simon Harding
TMO: rowan kitt
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