Bristol Bears Hold Off Benetton's Late Rally For Thrilling 35-29 Win
Bristol Bears Hold Off Benetton's Late Rally For Thrilling 35-29 Win
Bristol Bears secured a thrilling 35-29 victory over Benetton Rugby at Ashton Gate, fending off a late comeback to claim an important win.
Bristol Bears held off a determined Benetton Rugby side to secure a 35-29 victory in a thrilling, end-to-end match at Ashton Gate on Saturday. Despite a late comeback attempt by the visitors, the Bears maintained their composure to clinch the win in front of an enthusiastic home crowd.
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The Bears started with intent, taking the lead in the seventh minute through James Williams' try, which was swiftly converted by Harry Byrne to make it 7-0. Benetton responded with their first try in the 13th minute when Rhyno Smith crossed the line, though Tomas Albornoz missed the conversion, leaving the score at 7-5. Bristol quickly extended their lead as Kieran Marmion powered through for a try in the 17th minute, and Byrne added the extras to make it 14-5.
The momentum shifted in Benetton’s favour midway through the first half. Manuel Zuliani’s 22nd-minute try, converted by Albornoz, brought the visitors within two points. After a yellow card to Bristol’s Santiago Grondona for a high tackle in the 37th minute, Benetton capitalized with Matt Gallagher scoring a try just before halftime. However, Albornoz missed the conversion, leaving the score at 17-14 to Benetton at the break.
Bryne On Fire
Bristol came out firing in the second half, with Max Lahiff scoring a try in the 43rd minute to regain the lead. Byrne’s reliable boot added the conversion, and moments later, Harry Thacker dived over to extend the advantage to 28-17. Byrne’s pinpoint conversion maintained Bristol’s control. The Bears were relentless, with Marmion scoring his second try in the 57th minute, and Byrne once again split the posts to put the Bears up 35-17.
Benetton, however, refused to back down. Bautista Bernasconi reignited their hopes with a 63rd-minute try, converted by Albornoz to narrow the gap to 35-24. Just five minutes later, Tommaso Menoncello crashed over the line for another try, but Albornoz’s missed conversion left the score at 35-29, keeping Benetton six points adrift.
Late Surge Denied
Despite Benetton's late surge, the Bears’ defence held firm in the final 10 minutes, repelling multiple attacking phases. With time ticking down, Bristol’s tactical kicking and disciplined defence ensured that the visitors couldn’t produce another scoring opportunity, sealing a hard-fought victory for the home side.
This result underscores Bristol’s attacking prowess, with Byrne playing a pivotal role in converting opportunities and orchestrating play. Meanwhile, Benetton showed their resilience and ability to capitalize on opposition errors, but their missed conversions ultimately proved costly.
The win boosts Bristol’s standings as they continue their campaign, while Benetton will take heart from their spirited performance, even if they leave Ashton Gate empty-handed.
What's Next For Bristol Bears and Benetton Rugby?
Bristol will hit the road for the final round to face ASM Clermont whilst Benetton will host two time Investec Champions Cup winners La Rochelle at home.
Investec Champions Cup 2025 Round 3 Schedule
All Times Eastern
- Glasgow Warriors 29, Racing 92 19
- DHL Stormers 40 vs. Sale Sharks 0, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 8 a.m., DHL Stadium
- Exeter Chiefs 17 vs. Union Bordeaux-Bègles 69, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 10:15 AM, Sandy Park
- Hollywoodbets Sharks 8 vs. Stade Toulousain 20, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 10:15 a.m., Hollywoodbets Kings Park
- Munster Rugby 17 vs. Saracens 12, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 12:30 p.m., Thomond Park
- Stade Francais Paris 45 vs. Northampton Saints 35, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 12:30 p.m., Stade Jean Bouin
- Leicester Tigers 38 vs. Ulster Rugby 10, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 3 p.m., Mattioli Woods Welford Road
- Castres Olympique 49 vs. Vodacom Bulls 10, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 3 p.m., Stade Pierre-Fabre
- RC Toulon 33 vs. Harlequins 21, Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 8 a.m., Stade Felix Mayol
- Stade Rochelais 14 vs. Leinster Rugby 16, Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 10:15 a.m., Stade Marcel Deflandre
- Bristol Bears 35 vs. Benetton Rugby 29, Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 10:15 a.m., Ashton Gate
- Bath Rugby vs. ASM Clermont Auvergne, Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 12:30 p.m., The Rec
Investec Champions Cup Fixtures In Round 4
- Ulster Rugby vs. Exeter Chiefs, Fri, Jan 17, 2025, 3 PM, Kingspan Stadium
- Vodacom Bulls vs. Stade Francais Paris, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 8 AM, Loftus Versfeld
- Northampton Saints vs. Munster Rugby, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 10:15 AM, cinch Stadium @ Franklin's Gardens
- ASM Clermont Auvergne vs. Bristol Bears, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 10:15 AM, Stade Marcel-Michelin
- Benetton Rugby vs. Stade Rochelais, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 12:30 PM, Stadio Monigo
- Leinster Rugby vs. Bath Rugby, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 12:30 PM, Aviva Stadium
- Harlequins vs. Glasgow Warriors, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 3 PM, Twickenham Stoop
- Racing 92 vs. DHL Stormers, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 3 PM, Paris La Defense Arena
- Union Bordeaux-Bègles vs. Hollywoodbets Sharks, Sun, Jan 19, 2025, 8 AM, Stade Chaban-Delmas
- Saracens vs. Castres Olympique, Sun, Jan 19, 2025, 10:15 AM, StoneX Stadium
- Stade Toulousain vs. Leicester Tigers, Sun, Jan 19, 2025, 10:15 AM, Stade Ernest Wallon
- Sale Sharks vs. RC Toulon, Sun, Jan 19, 2025, 12:30 PM, Salford Community Stadium
Investec Champions Cup Format
Key points of the 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup:
- A multi-pool format, as launched in the 2023-2024 season
- 24 elite clubs - eight each from the Gallagher Premiership, URC and TOP 14 - in four pools of six
- Sporting jeopardy, with each club playing against four different opponents, home or away, in the pool stage
- Four highest-ranked clubs in each pool qualify for the Round of 16
- The Investec Champions Cup will be played over eight weekends, with four pool rounds and four knockout rounds culminating in the 2025 final, which will be staged at Cardiff's Principality Stadium on Saturday, May 24.
Investec Champions Cup Weekends
- Round 1 – 6/7/8 December 2024
- Round 2 – 13/14/15 December 2024
- Round 3 – 10/11/12 January 2025
- Round 4 – 17/18/19 January 2025
- Round of 16 – 4/5/6 April 2025
- Quarter-finals – 11/12/13 April 2025
- Semi-finals – 2/3/4 May 2025
- 2025 Investec Champions Cup final – Saturday, May 24, Principality Stadium, Cardiff
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When Does The 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup Begin? When Is The Champions Cup Final?
The Investec Champions Cup and the EPCR Challenge Cup begin Dec. 6, and the four-round pool-play action ends Jan. 19, 2025. The Round of 16 starts on April 4, while the quarterfinals are April 11-13. The semifinals are May 2-4.
The EPCR Championships weekend is in Cardiff, Wales at Principality Stadium. There are championship games on May 23 (EPCR Challenge Cup) and May 24 (Investec Champions Cup).
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