Bristol Bears wrote another chapter in their increasingly long and glorious European history book with a 16-18 comeback victory over Stade Francais at the Stade Jean-Bouin on Saturday night
Once again the Gallagher Premiership side left it late to get the job done with the vital try from replacement hooker Harry Thacker coming with just four minutes from time, that levelled the scores at 16-16 with Callum Sheedy kicking the winning conversion from right in front of the sticks.
For large spells of the contest Stade Francais v Bristol Bears felt like a clash of two opposing rugby playing philosophies, with the French all size and power and their English visitors full of skill and pace. At times their skillset let them down, but on Saturday night the Bears had just enough quality to get over the line despite having the likes of Steven Luatua, Charles Piutau and John Afoa resting at home ahead of Saracens in the Premiership next weekend.
However it was power which struck the first significant blow with Stade’s monstrous outside centre Waisea Nayacalevu crashing through the Bristol defence in the 25th minute after the excellent Nathan Hughes was harshly penalised. The big Fijian-born centre somehow ripped the ball out while tackling a French forward but the referee blew up against him to allow the hosts to kick to the corner to set up the scoring position.
However two minutes later one of Stade’s most physical and combative forwards, Argentine international Pablo Matera, was shown a yellow card for catching Toby Fricker with his forearm.
In the modern game a yellow was lenient.
But Bristol made the Top 14 side pay on the scoreboard in a matter of seconds. From the resulting penalty the Bears kicked to the corner, completed the lineout and drove over the whitewash with the backs providing some extra power. Hooker Will Capon was the man to touch the ball down.
Bristol continued to show flashes of their attacking ability with Hughes and Mat Protheroe cutting holes through the pink shirted line, unable to deal with the number eight’s intelligent running lines and powerful carries and the outstanding pace of the Bears full back.
After the break Sanchez and Sheedy, two fly halves on the opposite end of the experience spectrum, exchanged penalties, with the 80-cap Argentine international landing twice, but crucially pushing one kick wide of the pink posts.
That left the Bears 16-11 down chasing a try to win it and Thacker delivered the goods, bursting over from close range under the shadow of the posts.
Bristol now sit top of Pool 4 on 19 points needing one point to lock down a place in the quarter-finals while a pair of victories against Brive at home and Zebre away would help pave their route to final with home quarter and semi-finals should the club progress that far.
Bristol fans are already checking out flights to Marsille in May for the finals weekend.
Stade Francais: 15 Sione Tui; 14 Sefa Naivalu, 13 Waisea Nayacalevu, 12 Alex Arrate, 11 Adrien Lapegue; 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 James Hall; 1 Sami Mavinga, 2 Tolu Latu, 3 Giorgi Melikidze, 4 Hugh Pyle, 5 Mathieu De Giovanni (capt), 6 Pablo Matera, 7 Ryan Chapuis, 8 Charlie Francoz
Replacements: Laurent Panis, Thierry Futeu, Paul Alo-Emile, Yoann Maestri, Sekou Macalou, Arthur Coville, Joris Segonds, Jonathan Danty
Bristol Bears: 15. Mat Protheroe; 14. Toby Fricker, 13. Piers O’Conor, 12. Sam Bedlow, 11. Alapati Leiua; 10. Callum Sheedy, 9. Nic Stirzaker; 1. Jake Woolmore, 2. Will Capon, 3. Max Lahiff, 4. Ed Holmes, 5. Joe Joyce, 6. Chris Vui (c), 7. Jake Heenan, 8. Nathan Hughes.
Replacements: 16. Harry Thacker, 17. James Lay, 18. Nicky Thomas, 19. John Hawkins, 20. Luke Hamilton, 21. Andy Uren, 22. Ioan Lloyd, 23. Luke Morahan
