Depleted Bristol beat Harlequins in thriller as both teams miss semi-finals spots

Bristol Bears claimed a brilliant 28-53 win over Harlequins at the Twickenham Stoop as both sides missed out on the semi-finals as the regular season concluded. 

The hosts were in the game for an extended period scoring four tries through Chandler Cunningham-South brace while Alex Dombrandt and Luke Northmore also scored. Marcus Smith kicked five conversions. 

Bristol were outstanding and played well despite losing Callum Sheedy, Ellis Genge and Benhard Janse van Rensburg in the first half.

Pat Lam’s charges managed six tries through James Williams, Genge, Gabriel Ibitoye, Harry Thacker, Max Lahiff, Noah Heward and Gabriel Oghre. The goal kickers were busy with James Williams kicking three conversions and two penalties after Sheedy left the field, not before kicking three conversions of his own. 

Click here for teams and scorers

Those scores came at a cost though, with Benhard Janse van Rensburg, Callum Sheedy and Genge all forced off before the break. England prop Genge ended the game on crutches and in a walking boot which will concern head coach Steve Borthwick.

Harlequins scored two tries of their own through Chandler Cunningham-South and Alex Dombrandt.

Early in the second half, Harry Thacker brought up Bristol’s bonus point, but Quins responded through Luke Northmore before a second Cunningham-South try gave them the lead for the first time in the match.

But the boot of Williams and tries from Max Lahiff, Noah Heward and Gabriel Oghre allowed Bristol to retake the lead and stretch clear, even if it was not enough to crack the top four.

Pat Lam’s side could not have wished for a better start, with former Quins academy graduate Ibitoye racing clear down the left before Williams went over after 55 seconds. Sheedy converted from the touchline.

Janse van Rensburg limped off after the restart and Quins levelled when the departing Andre Esterhuizen burst through a hole before Cunningham-South went under the posts.

Genge crossed after some wonderful offloading by Bears created space and almost had a second, the score ruled out for an infringement by Thacker.

Instead, Quins levelled through Dombrandt, with Marcus Smith converting from the touchline.

A loose ball in midfield then allowed Ibitoye to stretch his legs and run in a third to make it 21-14 to the visitors.

Genge and Sheedy departed in the same passage before the break, but Bears flew out of the blocks in the second half as Thacker dotted down with a customary maul score.

Harlequins roared back, bringing back memories of their famous 28-point turnaround in the semi-final meeting between these sides three years ago at Ashton Gate.

Northmore showed brilliant footballing skills for their third try before Cunningham-South powered over for the bonus-point try to make it 28-26 to the hosts.

But a Williams penalty restored Bristol’s lead before Lahiff got over from close range.

The momentum had swung definitively, Williams knocking over another penalty before Heward finished a try made by a Max Malins break – the full-back impressing after shifting to fly-half.

Harlequins had nothing left to give and Bristol brought up a half-century of points with another maul try, this time through Oghre.

READ MORE: Premiership semi-finals and kick-off times confirmed

The teams

Harlequins: 15 Tyrone Green, 14 Louis Lynagh, 13 Luke Northmore, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Oscar Beard, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Danny Care, 8 Alex Dombrandt, 7 Will Evans, 6 Chandler Cunningham-South, 5 Stephan Lewies (c), 4 Irne Herbst, 3 Will Collier, 2 Jack Walker, 1 Fin Baxter
Replacements: 16 Sam Riley, 17 Simon Kerrod, 18 Dillon Lewis, 19 George Hammond, 20 James Chisholm, 21 Will Porter, 22 Jarrod Evans, 23 Will Joseph

Bristol: 15 Max Malins, 14 Noah Heward, 13 Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 12 James Williams, 11 Gabriel Ibitoye, 10 Callum Sheedy, 9 Harry Randall, 8 Magnus Bradbury, 7 Fitz Harding (c), 6 Steven Luatua, 5 Joe Batley, 4 James Dun, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 2 Harry Thacker, 1 Ellis Genge
Replacements: 16 Gabriel Oghre, 17 Jake Woolmore, 18 Max Lahiff, 19 Josh Caulfield, 20 Ben Grondona, 21 Kieran Marmion, 22 Virimi Vakatawa, Siva Naulago

Venue: Twickenham Stoop
Kick-off: 15:05 BST (14:05 GMT)
Referee: Adam Leal
Assistant Referees: Craig Maxwell-Keys, Jonathan Healy
TMO: Tom Foley

READ MORE: Sale Sharks stun Saracens to seal semi-final spot as holders lose home advantage