Bristol book Bath semi-final with eight-try win over Harlequins

Bristol booked a Gallagher Premiership play-off clash against fierce west country rivals Bath after beating Harlequins 52-26 at Ashton Gate.

Pat Lam’s team knew that victory would secure a top-four finish for the first time since 2022, and they did not disappoint a 19,700 crowd.

Tries in the first five minutes from prop George Kloska and lock Joe Batley sent them on their way, before wing Kalaveti Ravouvou and number eight Viliame Mata also touched down.

Fly-half AJ MacGinty added three conversions, putting Bristol clear despite two tries by Quins’ England wing Cadan Murley and one Jamie Benson conversion.

Quins threatened a major fightback when Alex Dombrandt and George Hammond crossed early in the second period – Benson added two more conversions – but Bristol coasted clear through a Gabriel Ibitoye double and scores from flanker Santiago Grondona and centre Benhard Janse van Rensburg, plus three more MacGinty conversions.

Bristol will now head to the Recreation Ground on June 6 and an appointment with the Premiership title favourites, but also knowing they have toppled Bath twice in the league this season.

Bristol made a flying start and were ahead after just 92 seconds when Kloska crashed over from close range, with MacGinty’s conversion confirming an immediate statement of intent.

Quins were not at the races and Bristol struck again through a fifth-minute try for Batley – also converted by MacGinty – and it represented a dream opening.

Both sides were keen to run the ball at every opportunity and Quins thought they had cut the deficit when centre Luke Northmore went over, but it was ruled out for a forward pass by referee Luke Pearce.

The visitors did not have to wait much longer in terms of opening their account, though, as they unlocked Bristol’s defence through a combination of Benson’s clever kick and a strong finish from Murley, with Benson converting.

Back came Bristol when scrum-half Harry Randall broke sharply from the forward base and full-back Noah Heward sent unmarked wing Ravouvou over to open up a 19-7 advantage.

Bristol had the bit between their teeth, and Quins’ defence once again had no answer as the home side mustered a fourth try in 24 minutes, this time from Mata.

Murley then produced a stunning finish for his second try, sprinting past Ravouvou, which served as a reminder that Bristol were not home and dry, but they still took a 26-12 lead into half-time.

Ibitoye set the second-half ball rolling with a 46th-minute try following brilliant work by Ravouvou and Janse van Rensburg as Bristol eased past 30 points.

But Quins would not go quietly, and a fine break by Benson sent captain Dombrandt over for their third try, with the fly-half converting and keeping his team firmly in contention.

Bristol had briefly lost their way and Quins capitalised as Hammond claimed their fourth touchdown – again converted by Benson – to make it a five-point game with more than 20 minutes left.

Grondona eased Bristol’s nerves by going over in the 58th minute, though, and MacGinty converted, before Ibitoye rounded off a flowing move and Quins were finally subdued as the home side pulled away.