Bristol Bears Fall Short of Play-offs Despite Thrilling Victory Over Harlequins
In a hard-fought Gallagher Premiership clash, Bristol Bears secured a dominant 53-28 win over Harlequins, but it ultimately wasn’t enough to secure a place in the play-offs. Both teams were in contention for a top-four finish, needing a bonus-point victory coupled with other results going their way.
The Bears raced out of the blocks, with tries from James Williams, Ellis Genge, and Gabriel Ibitoye giving them a 21-14 lead at half-time. However, the victory came at a cost, with Benhard Janse van Rensburg, Callum Sheedy, and Genge all forced off before the break.
“The match was a showcase of the high-octane, end-to-end rugby union gameplay that has captivated fans throughout the Gallagher Premiership season.”
Harlequins clawed their way back in the second half, scoring two tries through Chandler Cunningham-South and Alex Dombrandt to take the lead. But the resilient Bears refused to surrender, with Williams’ boot and further tries from Harry Thacker, Max Lahiff, Noah Heward, and Gabriel Oghre securing the thrilling victory.
Despite their heroics, Bristol’s triumph proved in vain as Sale’s 20-10 win at Saracens meant the Bears finished fifth in the Premiership table, missing out on the play-offs. England prop Genge’s late injury will also be a concern for head coach Steve Borthwick.
The match was a showcase of the high-octane, end-to-end rugby union gameplay that has captivated fans throughout the Gallagher Premiership season. While Bristol’s play-off dreams were dashed, their emphatic victory over Harlequins demonstrated the team’s resilience and attacking prowess, which will no doubt fuel their ambitions for the 2023-24 campaign.
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