Bristol v Leicester LIVE: Brilliant Bears start season with a bang

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Bristol Bears got the Gallagher Premiership season off to a flier with an excellent display to beat Leicester Tigers at Ashton Gate in the opening match of the season.

The brilliant Gabriel Ibitoye starred in a one-sided first half, scoring the first try after just two minutes as the Bears came flying out of the traps.

A perfectly executed rolling maul gave Bristol their second try of the evening, and Ibitoye’s flambouyant finish made it three score in just 23 one-sided minutes of the match.

Leicester came back into the game after the break, although the Tigers never really managed to supply their back line with quick ball, and fell short despite winning the second half with a two-try comeback thanks to Dan Kelly and Hanro Liebenberg.

Bristol’s defence withstood some late pressure to secure a win that gets the Premiership season off to a fascinating start.

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Ibitoye got the pulses racing on the field, but there was a heart-in-mouth moment for the TNT crew just before kick-off.

Orla Chennaoui, Ugo Monye and Stuart Hogg were full of praise for the Player of the Match.

The Player of the Match is two-try hero Ibitoye, and he’s just spoken to Martin Bayfield down on the field at Ashton Gate.

“We spoke about how Leicester are a team who like to keep things under pressure and not let you breathe, so we had to find a way to relieve that and put it back on them.

“That second try has never happened for me, I was in shock. I just looked to support and try and do my thing.

“It’s only one game, we can’t get carried away, look forward to next week and keep moving.”

Bristol clear into touch and the final whistle toots. That’s a terrific start to the season for the Bears, who lit up the opening night of the season in the first-half and withstood some Leicester pressure in the second to take the win.

Ibitoye puts in a huge hit on Shillcock as Leicester go searching for a try. That was outstanding work from the Player of the Match, but credit also to Shillcock, who has got the Tigers ticking since he came on.

There’s not a huge amount of distance on the clearing kick after possession turns over, but Bristol have taken some time off the clock with dogged defence.

Shillcock gets absolutely blasted in a tackle by Luatua, but there was an advantage waiting for the Tigers and they kick for the corner to set up the chance for another score.

Shillcock slots the extra points and Leicester have a sniff of snatching something here.

It’s another try for Leicester as they go through phase after phase in Bristol territory, asking big questions of the defensive line with heavy carries, and it’s the big captain Liebenberg who bursts through a gap and touches down.

It’s now or never for Leicester as the clock ticks beyond 70.

Bristol were beginning to come under real pressure at scrum time, but a green shirt pops up in the front row and the penalty goes the Bears’ way. That’s big, and halts Leicester’s momentum once again.

TNT Sports presents the premium live sports rights previously carried by BT Sport including the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, Gallagher Premiership Rugby, Investec Champions Cup, EPCR Challenge Cup, MotoGP, Cricket, UFC, Boxing and WWE. The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination. You can also watch TNT Sports through BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media

There’s a huge roar as Bristol’s new big name comes off the bench.

Ibitoye shows how on it he is with a clever piece of play, leaping in-field from the other side of the touchline to plug a touch-bound kick out of the sky. Everyone else involved had assumed that was dropping out of play, and Leicester are slightly fortunate that they aren’t exposed by the moment of magic.

You don’t often see Leicester outplayed in the maul in this manner, but once again it’s Bristol who get the rumble going in the middle of the park.

The Tigers have tightened up since the break and, although they still aren’t playing particularly great rugby, there’s still a chance that they could make a game of this. The next score is vital.

Leicester try and set up a rolling maul from a lineout deep in Bristol territory, but it all breaks down and it’s the Bears who clear their lines. When something as staple as Leicester’s maul breaks down you know it’s not quite clicking for them.

The momentum is with Leicester right now and Bristol decide to add some fresh legs with Caulfield coming on in the second row.