Prem Rugby Cup: Wins for Bears, Sarries and Quins
Gabriel Ibitoye scored the third of Bristol's seven tries as they narrowly defeated Gloucester at Ashton Gate
- Published
Bristol Bears edged past local rivals Gloucester 43-40 at Ashton Gate, scoring seven tries in a pulsating Prem Rugby Cup clash to get their season off to a winning start.
The hosts had the better of the first half, with scores from Paddy Pearce, Jimmy Halliwell, Gabriel Ibitoye and Noah Heward setting the tone, with Dan Robson, Ben Redshaw and Phil Cokanasiga responding for the visitors.
Further efforts from James Williams and Harry Thacker's brace either side of half-time increased that lead, but the visitors struck back with further scores from Cokanasiga, Jack Clement and Junior Denny to force a tense finish.
But with the game and local pride in the balance, the Bristol defence held on to claim all five points and go top of Pool A.
Quins overpower Tigers
In Pool B, Theo Povey scored twice as Harlequins comfortably overcame defending champions Leicester Tigers 45-21 at the Twickenham Stoop.
Quins were noticeably stronger in the first half, running in four tries through Jack Kenningham, Povey, Seb Driscoll and new signing Harry Johnson-Holmes.
With only Finn Carnduff's score to show for their first-half efforts, the Tigers came back into the game with scores from Billy Searle and Will Wand, but were ultimately undone by Quins' attacking zeal, which resulted in a further three tries for Jack Walker, Povey and Josh Bellamy, much to the delight of the home crowd.
Sarries demolish Saints
At the StoneX, Saracens staged a barely believable comeback, scoring 11 second-half tries to obliterate Northampton Saints 96-42 having found themselves 28-19 down at half-time.
Northampton looked like they had the measure of their opponents in the first half, scoring tries through James Bennett, Josh Taylor, James Pater and Will Catley, with Phil Brantingham, Angus Hall and Rotimi Segun responding for the hosts.
But the second half was all Saracens with Jack Bracken's hat-trick the pick of the scores, with further efforts from Alex O'Driscoll, Segun, Tom James, Max Malins, Tobias Elliott, Sione Va'eneku, Nathan Michelow and a penalty try pushing the home team beyond 90 points.
Further Saints scores from Aiden Ainsworth-Cave and a second for Bennett were enough for a try bonus point, leaving the visitors just above Leicester in Pool B.
