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Bristol back with a bang thanks to win over Bath

By Harry West
Alapati Leiua scores for Bristol Bears

Bristol Bears made a fine start to life back in the Premiership with a 17-10 success over local rivals Bath at Ashton Gate on Friday.

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Fresh from winning the Championship in 2017-18, losing only one game in the process, Bristol capitalised on a couple of glaring errors from their opponents, who had won their opening game of the season in each of the past eight years.

After trailing 9-0 to a trio of Ian Madigan penalties, Bath briefly led thanks to Tom Homer’s score – the full-back atoning for a dreadful mistake in the first half – and the boot of Rhys Priestland, who himself was far from at his best.

But in the final 15 minutes, Madigan slotted another penalty before Alapati Leiua crossed for what proved to be the decisive score – Madigan’s missed conversion meaning Bath at least came away with a losing bonus point.

The tone for Bath’s outing was set early on as Priestland struck the post with a penalty, sandwiched between two successful efforts from the boot of Madigan.

Worse was to come for the visitors, who saw Homer inexplicably knock on when putting the ball down for a simple score under no pressure, having been fed by Priestland who appeared to be over the line in any event.

Madigan stretched Bristol’s lead before Priestland’s poor game continued as he sent a straightforward effort from the tee wide to the left.

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Homer did not err with his handling in going over with half an hour to play and Tusi Pisi’s yellow card then yielded three points for Bath, who went in front for the first time, only for Madigan and Leiua to ensure a successful return to the top flight for the Bears.

In other news:

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Bull Shark 2 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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