Bristol match report and player ratings

Leinster lost another man to the bin moments later as a cynical trip from Max Deegan halted a promising Fitz Harding break as the captain powered towards the tryline.

With a two-man advantage and Ashton Gate rocking, Bears took immediate advantage from a 5m lineout as Harry Thacker’s throw was gobbled up by Grondona and recycled to Bill Mata before Lahiff’s pick-and-go secured the first points of the game.

Benhard Janse van Rensburg, on kicking duties in the absence of MacGinty, added the extras but the visitors were soon back on level terms after Bears lost the restart and Larmour penalised slack defending to cross the whitewash on 32 minutes.

The conversion from Prendergast was good and Leinster retained the ball well in the closing stages of the half to ensure the score remained level at the interval.

Leinster were lucky to escape another yellow card following the restart when Joe McCarthy appeared to trip Harry Randall in full flow, before Lahiff and Andrew Porter were sent to the bin on 47 minutes for repeated scrum infringements.

Two quickfire tries from Leinster dealt a blow to Bears’ resilience as Prendergast converted his own score to put the away side in front for the first time before replacement Jordie Barrett crossed under the posts to make it 21-7.

Prendergast found his way over again following a break from RG Snyman just before the hour while Van der Flier powered over from the back of a maul for the visitors’ fifth try.

Bears fought until the final whistle and got a consolation score through Ibitoye as Lam’s side now turn their attention to an away trip to La Rochelle in Round 2.

Bristol Bears: Tries: Lahiff 29, Ibitoye 72; Cons: Janse van Rensburg 30

Leinster: Tries: Larmour 32, Prendergast 51, 57, Barret 55, van der Flier 63; Cons: Prendergast 33, 52, 58, 64

Bristol player ratings

15. Rich Lane (43 apps),

5/10

14. Jack Bates (43 apps),

6/10

13. Kalaveti Ravouvou (13 apps),

5/10

12. Benhard Janse van Rensburg (32 apps),

7/10

11. Gabriel Ibitoye (49 apps),

6/10

10. AJ MacGinty (44 apps),

MacGinty went off after 4 mins

9. Harry Randall (131 apps);

5/10

1. Ellis Genge (49 apps),

5/10

2. Harry Thacker (120 apps),

5/10

3. Max Lahiff (95 apps),

5/10

4. James Dun (41 apps),

5/10

5. Joe Owen (20 apps),

5/10

6. Santiago Grondona (4 apps),

6/10

7. Fitz Harding (c) (80 apps),

6/10

8. Viliame Mata (1 app).

6/10

16. Gabriel Oghre (25 apps),

5/10

17.Jake Woolmore (158 apps),

7/10

18. Lovejoy Chawatama (4 apps),

5/10

19. Steven Luatua (136 apps),

6/10

20. Benjamin Grondona (11 apps),

N/A

21. Kieran Marmion (33 apps),

6/10

22. Joe Jenkins (19 apps),

5/10

23. Benjamin Elizalde (6 apps).

5/10