Bristol Bears' overworked squad fell to a third loss in the last five games with a heavy, if entertaining, 59-35 defeat to Wasps at the Ricoh Arena on Sunday.
Wasps secured a try bonus point after just 17 minutes, but the heavily rotated Bears fought their way back into the game to earn what could prove to be a vital losing bonus point for eventually scoring five tries of their own.
The comeback was led by the impressive Max Malins and Piers O’Conor who both crossed the whitewash before the break.
But Wasps responded strongly to take the game from Bristol despite second-half scores from Malins, Peter McCabe as well as a penalty try which earned the Bears that bonus point.
The defeat for Bristol means Wasps complete a Premiership double over the Bears.
Bristol got off to the worse possible start, conceding the game's opening try inside the first minute when Jack Willis found the try-line for Wasps after a Brad Shields charge down from Chris Cook's box kick.
Wasps had their second try before the game hit the ten-minute mark with Josh Bassett weaving his way through a gap in the Bristol defensive line.
The Bears struggled with Wasps' intensity, with the home side forcing a number of errors, giving Wasps dangerous field-position.
And they capitalised on the field position with their third try with Tom Cruse controlling the ball from the back of a driving maul to cross the line.
It took just 17 minutes for Wasps to secure the bonus-point try with Welsh international Will Rowlands crashing over from close range.
Bristol finally had a chance to attack after the drinks break through winger Jack Bates, but the youngster was brought down close to the line.
The Bears grew into the game with successive periods of pressure on the Wasps defence, first an unsuccessful driving maul, then another break by Bates down the wing.
Niyi Adeolokun thought he had scored his first Bears try after some impressive link-up play from Max Malins and Piers O’Conor but the TMO ruled that the former Connacht man was in touch.
Eventually the Bears had their reward for a long period of pressure when Malins crossed the line after a sharp burst of pace through the Wasps defence.
Bristol had their second before the break with Piers O’Conor scoring his sixth Premiership try of the season after linking up with Malins down the left wing.
But it was the home side who brought the high-scoring first half to an end with Zach Kibirige scoring his side's fifth of the game with the final play of the half.
As in the first half, it was the home side who opened the scoring in the second half with Dan Robson scoring after a free-flowing Wasps break.
Wasps had their seventh try of the game when referee Ian Tempest awarded a penalty try after Bears infringed at the scrum.
The game's tenth try came from the Bristol Bears, with Malins crossing for his second try after a powerful break from replacement hooker Bryan Byrne.
The Bears forwards struggled against a dominant Wasps pack, gifting the home side dangerous field position numerous times in the half.
Wasps capitalised on the field position, with Tom Willis forcing his way over from close range for his side's eight try.
Bristol pushed for what could be an important try bonus point and they were rewarded with a penalty try when Wasps pulled down a motoring driving maul.
Wasps responded with their ninth try with Gabriel Oghre crossing from yet another driving maul.
But it was Bristol who closed out the scoring with replacement prop Peter McCabe burrowing over from close range for a consolation try to take the total points scored into the 90s.
All eyes now switch towards Europe and the Challenge Cup quarter-final against Dragons on Friday night at Ashton Gate.
Wasps: 15 Matteo Minozzi, 14 Zach Kibirige, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Jimmy Gopperth, 11 Josh Bassett, 10 Jacob Umaga, 9 Dan Robson; 1 Ben Harris, 2 Tom Cruse, 3 Kieran Brookes, 4 Joe Launchbury (C), 5 Will Rowlands, 6 Brad Shields, 7 Jack Willis, 8 Tom Willis.
Replacements: 16 Gabriel Oghre, 17 Tom West, 18 Jeff Toomaga-Allen, 19 James Gaskell, 20 Thomas Young, 21 Ben Vellacott, 22 Ryan Mills, 23 Marcus Watson.
Bristol Bears: 15 Ioan Lloyd, 14 Niyi Adeolokun, 13 Piers O’Conor, 12 Alapati Leiua, 11 Jack Bates, 10 Max Malins, 9 Chris Cook; 1 Yann Thomas, 2 Will Capon, 3 Keiron Assiratti, 4 Ed Holmes, 19 John Hawkins, 6 James Dun, 7 Dan Thomas, 8 Jake Heenan (C).
Replacements: 16 Bryan Byrne, 17 Peter McCabe, 18 John Afoa, 5 Joe Joyce, 20 Mitch Eadie, 21 Tom Kessell, 22 Harry Ascherl, 23 Charlie Powell.
Referee: Ian Tempest
Assistant Referees: Christophe Ridley &
Attendance: Behind Closed Doors
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