Bristol Bears v Exeter Chiefs: Five takeaways as England playmaker ‘pulls the strings’ in dazzling Bears win as hosts lay down title marker
Bristol Bears players celebrating a try in 2025
Following Bristol’s 52-38 win over Exeter Chiefs at Ashton Gate, here are our five key takeaways from an entertaining West Country derby.
The top line
The first 20 minutes of any game is usually a feeling-out period where both teams just look to find their feet. This was anything but that with seven tries scored in that period and Bristol had already secured a bonus point too.
For the Bears, a brace from James Williams alongside other tries from Jack Bates and Benhard Janse van Rensburg set the tone for their outing, but Exeter responded with three of their own through Martin Maloney, Henry Slade and Josh Hodge.
Things did eventually settle down though, as you would expect, with just the two tries scored between minutes 22 and 29 with both Bates and Hodge grabbing their braces with spectacular scores.
A spot of spice was also thrown into the mix too as Santi Grondona was shown a red card, but it didn’t deter the hosts who added a record-breaking 10th try of the whole first-half through Harry Randall.
The try-scoring antics continued in the second-half as Bristol ended the contest with 10 to their name, with Bates also grabbing a hat-trick. Exeter fought back well at the end, but it was too little too late as Pat Lam’s side claimed a 52-38 win.
What a game
I don’t think I’ve seen a game quite like it. It simply had everything.
The rate of scoring was beyond a joke, to the point it almost felt like an exhibition. They went at a rate of a try every two minutes in the first 10, Bristol secured a bonus point after 15 minutes and Exeter got theirs moments after too.
While the amount of early tries was something in itself, they were also utterly superb. Bates and Hodge’s respective second tries will likely be contenders for try of the season, and around that too Janse van Rensburg’s score direct from kick-off was quite something too.
Then, add in the monstrous tackle fromĀ Viliame Mata, the clever kicking from Harry Byrne and the sheer intent to play from both sides was just a sight to behold.
And, that was just the first-half…
What an unbelievable game, a joy to watch.
Record-breaking stats
While the scoreline is a stat into itself, the numbers across the game were something else entirely.
Randall’s score at the end of the first-half also helped this game break a Premiership record of 10 tries in just one half.
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The Bears also notched a whopping nine linebreaks throughout the game, three of which came from hat-trick hero Jack Bates. The winger was also his side’s chief metre-maker too, with 92 to his name.
Exeter should also take some pride from their attacking output, with Rob Baxter’s side making a solid 249 metres post-contact.
Breakthrough star Paul Brown-Bampoe carried his Premiership Cup form into this game too, beating a gane-high six defenders. He also led the way for his side in the metres charts with 72.
Bristol Bears, Premiership champions?
They’ve been in the mix right from the off, but today was another reminder of Bristol’s champion credentials.
We’ve already waxed lyrical about their attacking exploits for much of this campaign, but today was another step up – if that was even possible. This extended break without a game has seemingley given them time to press the reset button and go back to what made them so frighteningley good in the early exchanges of the campaign.
Harry Randall looked back to his dazzling best as he pulled the strings for his side. His fizz around the ruck managed to unlock the Exeter defence at ease, and he in-turn was able to nab a try off the back of it. His combination with Byrne was also mesmeric at times as the pair just effortlessly ran the show to get things moving.
Around that too, Jack Bates was brilliant in most aspects, scoring a fine hat-trick for his efforts, Benhard Janse van Rensburg was yet again solid, James Williams too alongside him.
But, while the attacking stuff was the pinnacle of the Bears way, it was their defensive efforts that underpinned everything and prove just why they will be in the mix come the end of the season – and could very easily have a date at Twickenham to look forward to.
Exeter managed to make decent in-roads throughout the game, but still Bristol just worked back and showed serious steel to hold them out. Take the 11 phase play in the second-half, in games gone by and maybe even in the first-half the Bears would have lost these little battles and crumbled. Today was different.
They should be right in the mix come the end of it.
Signs of change for Exeter
There wasn’t much expectation on Exeter heading into the game, with the mass changes deployed, and even despite the scoreline they can potentially take some positives from it.
The obvious disappointment of losing the Premiership Cup final leaves the Chiefs with not much else to play for other than pride, butĀ that opening stanza saw both sides go to town ball-in-hand.
That’s something we’ve not seen from the Chiefs this season, and that could be a sign of serious long-term change.
England U20s star Ben Coen – touted as the future of the club – was handed his Premiership debut at 10 and made a decent impression. Around that, Paul Brown-Bampoe continued his form from the Premiership Cup with some nice breaks, Hodge seemed a player reborn out on the wing and Will Rigg consistently made himself available for work.
Kane James – another of the U20s stars in the South West – also made his Premiership debut for the club off the bench, and made a decent impression on the game.
Defence will need some fixing for sure, after all you can’t sustainably concede six tries a half if you want to be a top four side, but there is literally nothing but pride for Exeter to play for now so that can almost be parked for the time being and the focus can shift to just playing with freedom.
There just seemed to be a different attacking intent from the Chiefs, which could put them in a stronger position to end the season well and set a platform for next year.