Bristol Bears 36-14 Bath Rugby LIVE: Highlights and reaction from derby clash (2025)

Reaction from Bath head of rugby Johann van Graan

Van Graan said:

“The occasion was magnificent, and credit to Bristol. It was a Test match environment today.

“In terms of our team, we loved the build-up and it felt like a Test match, a really big game of rugby.

“We left a few opportunities out there, and we could have capitalised better when they were down to 13 men, but I am immensely proud of the guys.”

Trylights - Will Capon finishes a long range score

Bristol seal the deal on their #BigDayOut with a quality finish from hooker Will Capon #GallagherPrem | #BRIvBAT pic.twitter.com/dYyCmL3wxX

— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) May 10, 2025

Trylights - Ewan Richards shows his dynamism

"He's going to enjoy the replay of that one!"

Ewan Richards take a bow, a brilliant individual finish from @BathRugby skipper #GallagherPrem | #BRIvBAT | #BigDayOut pic.twitter.com/agaoz0WSdK

— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) May 10, 2025

Trylights - Fitz Harding scores the bonus point try

Bristol get their bonus-point try and equal their highest try-scoring #GallagherPrem season with two and half games still remaining #GallagherPrem | #BRIvBAT | #BigDayOut pic.twitter.com/5hN003X2aW

— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) May 10, 2025

Match action

Reaction from Bristol Bears director of rugby Pat Lam

Lam said:

It is a brilliant league, every team is trying to play rugby and putting their bodies on the line.

See Also

Everything To Know About Bath Rugby Ahead Of The EPCR Challenge Cup Final - FloRugbyTout ce qui à savoir sur Bath Rugby avant la finale de l'EPCR Challenge Cup - Super Rugby NewsBath Rugby 61-26 Gloucester Rugby LIVE: Reaction and highlights from the Rec

Every game is basically a final for everyone apart from Bath who already have a semi-final wrapped up.

We prepared for Bath and you have to get to half time and be in the fight. They have got so many forwards who come so we talked about introducing a bit more kicking. The problem is we had a couple of times it was on and we didn’t take the chances.

The defensive effort was huge when we were down to 13 men.

This is the 14th time we have played Bath since I arrived and we have won 11 and every time we beat them out breakdown goes to a different level. The problem is we need to feel like we are playing Bath every week.

Official player of the match

Bristol Bears scrum half Harry Randall takes the gong from TNT Sports.

Stay tuned

Full reaction to follow...

FULL TIME - Bristol Bears 36-14 Bath Rugby

The Bears claim the derby honours again, as they were expected to do.

That keeps Bristol in the mix for the play-offs.

TRY - Bristol Bears - 36-14

Bristol have a sixth try of the game to secure the derby honours.

Gabriel Ibitoye launches a shallow cross-field kick toi Siva Naulago who taps it back inside to Bill Mata who uses his former sevens pace to race in from 40m out down the right wing.

AJ MacGinty's conversion misses.

36-14

TRY - Bristol Bears - 31-14

Bristol go 95m to score.

The Bears come up with a vital trysaving tackle in their 22 and turn the ball over 5m from their own line as Gabriel Ibitoye rips it free.

The ball is moved to AJ MacGinty who races through a gap before sending a pass over the top to new man Siva Naulaguo who uses his fresh legs to race 60m down the right wing.

Ciaran Donoghue comes up with a try saving tackle but the ball is recycled and slipped to Will Capon who has enough pace to run in.

AJ MacGinty misses the conversion.

31-14

PENALTY GOAL MISSED - Bristol Bears - 26-14

Crikey.

AJ MacGinty misses from in front of the posts but 40m out as the Bears look to make it a 15 point lead.

Bath look to play quickly and run from deep through Bayliss.

26-14

Bristol back to 15

Bill Mata is back from the sin bin and that means they are back up 15 vs 15.

That is some double sin binning period for the Bears who didn't concede a point.

26-14

Bristol back to 14

Joe Batley's yellow card period is over.

Joe Owen is on in his place.

26-14

Always the man for the big moment

Bath look to run the ball out from deep in their half, surprisingly the league leaders have been the running team today, but they get punished for it as Benhard Janse van Rensburg arrives at the ruck to jackal over the ball and rip it free.

26-14

Knock on

Bath launch from yet another 5m lineout and replacement hooker Kepu Tuipulotu breaks away and drives for the line but he loses control of the ball reaching out to try and score.

The Bears then win a penalty at the scrum to give AJ MacGinty a pressure free entry.

That is a big missed opportunity for Bath who won't go away.

26-14

YELLOW CARD - Bristol Bears - 26-14

Bristol are down to 13 men for eight minutes.

Bill Mata is penalised for being offside defending his try line.

The Bears are in serious trouble here.

26-14

Try saving tackle

Bath attack from the 5m lineout and get the ball out to Joe Cokanasiga on a short line to let the giant winger drive to within inches of the try line.

Bristol have been sucked so narrow in defence and there is an overlap on.

The ball is moved through the hands to Austin Emens who backs his pace on the outside but Rich Lane manages to make up ground and drag the winger into touch.

We come back for an earlier penalty offence though.

26-14

YELLOW CARD - Bristol Bears

That is so silly from Joe Batley.

The lock is on the floor, in an offside position, as Bath attack from a 5m lineout, he then rips the ball free from Tom Carr-Smith as he breaks away to stop a scoring chance.

Referee Luke Pearce flashes a third yellow card of the game.

Bath kick to the corner.

26-14

Vital tap tackle

Bath look to be growing in confidence as they run the ball from deep in their 22.

Tom de Glanville sucks in two defenders before releasing Austin Emens and the former sevens man looks like he is way, but James Williams comes across with a vital tap tackle to potentially save a try.

26-14

TRY - Bath Rugby - 26-14

Ewan Richards makes amends for his forward pass almost instantly.

Orlando Bailey makes a half break running into space before moving the ball to Ewan Richards who sells a dummy to Joe Batley and James Williams and steps off his right foot to speed in under the posts.

Ciaran Donoghue converts to close the gap.

26-14

NO TRY - Bath Rugby - 26-7

Will Jeanes - on his Premiership debut - looks to have got a try to drag Bath back into this after powering through Ellis Genge on his way to touching down.

But a TMO review spots a forward pass from Ewan Richards in the build-up. That is a harsh, harsh call on Bath.

26-7

Another sharp break

Josh Bayliss and Joe Cokanasiga have both been very impressive for Bath today and the flanker helps break the line again as he peels off a maul and gets a clever offload away to the giant winger who makes good yards.

26-7

What a hit!

Bill Mata has done it again.

Having buried Henry Slade earlier in the season, the Bristol nimber eight cuts Ciaran Donoghue in half, but the Bath fly-half did his job and got the ball away to create an overlap for Joe Cokanasiga who burst down the right wing to get deep into the 22 before being well tackled by James Williams.

Go and find the highlight clip of that one.

26-7

Injury concern for Bristol Bears

Steven Luatua is off limping heavily.

Santi Grondona is on.

26-7

TRY - Bristol Bears - 26-7

Bristol have their bonus point score.

It started with a powerful drive from Ellis Genge before Gabriel Ibitoye escaped outside Louie Henneessey, using his face and power to break the line.

Kalaveti Ravouvou takes the ball on and a couple of phases later Fitz Harding powers over the line and manages to wrestle the ball to the ground despite the best efforts of Josh Bayliss.

AJ MacGinty adds the extras.

26-7

SECOND HALF KICKS OFF

AJ MacGinty gets the game back underway.

James Dun is on for the Bears for Josh Caulfield.

19-7

Trylights - Rich Lane finishes a lightning strike score

@BristolBears turn on the style as they move the ball out wide with pace and take the lead through Rich Lane!#GallagherPrem | #BRIvBAT | #BigDayOut pic.twitter.com/dvNPyUpiNc

— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) May 10, 2025

Trylights - Gabriel Ibitoye touches down again

14-man @BristolBears strike back as Gabriel Ibitoye finds a gap for his 11th try of the season #GallagherPrem | #BRIvBAT | #BigDayOut pic.twitter.com/3nGjwwOreD

— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) May 10, 2025

Trylights - Ciaran Donoghue opens the scoring

Ciaran Donoghue is impressing once again as @BathRugby opening the scoring in Cardiff!

A powerful run from Joe Cokanasiga takes out two defenders before the offload.#GallagherPrem | #BRIvBAT | #BigDayOut pic.twitter.com/xYKgofzDwZ

— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) May 10, 2025