It was an historic day for Bristol Bears on Sunday, who registered their first win at Bath Rugby's Recreation Ground for 13 years.
Bristol returned to third place in the league after the 19-13 win, with first half tries from Chris Vui and Alapati Leiua and another in the second from Harry Randall rounding off the win.
A second half try from Bath's Will Chudley threatened a comeback but resolute defence from Bristol meant they were able to hold on.
Bristol fly-half Callum Sheedy was particularly impressive, dummying his way through the Bath lines before kicking into Leiua's arms for the second try.
See how the national (and some local) media reacted to the win.
Telegraph
Bristol ended a 13-year wait for a Premiership victory over Bath at the Rec, as a thumping and electrifying West Country derby went down to the wire.
Just over a decade ago, Bristol had a 45-8 away thrashing by their rivals. But, under the guidance of genial director of rugby Pat Lam, how times have changed.
This was a fourth successive Premiership win, including an impressive one away at high-flying Northampton on Feb 16, and has put them within a point of second-placed Sale and a home play-off semi-final.
BBC
Bristol produced an excellent defensive display to beat neighbours Bath - their first win at The Rec in 14 years.
Excellent early tries for Bristol from Chris Vui and Alapati Leiua were split by a penalty from Bath's Welsh fly-half Rhys Priestland, who kicked another three points just before the break.
Replacement Harry Randall got Bristol's third try with 18 minutes left of an attritional second half. Scrum-half Will Chudley struck back almost instantly but Bristol held on.
Bristol's first win at the home of their West Country rivals since a 19-12 victory in November 2006 moves Bristol above Northampton into third place in the Premiership, while Bath stay in fifth.
Guardian
Welsh rugby has known more encouraging St David’s Day outcomes than the one which materialised here. Twickenham will be a different ball game on Saturday but a distinguished trio of Wales internationals found victory on English soil frustratingly beyond them as Bath were beaten on their own sodden patch by their noisy neighbours for the first time since November 2006.
It was not the instant dividend Bath were looking for having recruited Rhys Webb to team up with Taulupe Faletau and Rhys Priestland in a high-profile triumvirate at 8, 9 and 10 but Bristol deserved this sweet result on the basis of their sharper finishing and resilience in the closing stages of a heavy-duty contest.
In Callum Sheedy they also had a match-winning Wales-born fly‑half who ultimately outmanoevured all his bigger-name opponents.
With Dan Biggar nursing a knee problem and Priestland’s right knee strapped from the outset it may be that the Wales head coach, Wayne Pivac, will need some fresh cover for the final stages of the Six Nations. In that event it is not impossible the uncapped Sheedy’s name will enter the frame at some stage.
The 24-year-old was far from the only influential Bristol performer but there will be few more artfully created tries this season than the one which helped hoist the Bears to third in the table, a gorgeous dummy fooling the entire Bath defensive line prior to an inch-perfect cross kick to the unmarked Alapati Leiua and an equally precise angled conversion.
Rugby Pass
Tries by flanker Chris Vui, wing Alapati Leiua and substitute scrum-half Harry Randall shaded a tight and tense west country derby in Bristol’s favour.
Fly-half Callum Sheedy kicked two conversions and, although Bath replacement Will Chudley touched down in the second period, it was a case of too little too late.
Rhys Priestland slotted two penalties and a conversion, yet it was Bristol’s day as they climbed to just a point behind second-placed Sale Sharks.
It was Bath’s first Premiership home defeat for a year, but Bristol’s fourth league win on the bounce underlined serious title play-off ambitions this season.
Somerset Live
Stuart Hooper said he is “hurting” after his side’s defeat to West Country rivals on Sunday.
The Blue, Black and Whites performed well but were unable to convert their opportunities to points on the board.
Bristol scored an early try through Chris Vui which gave them momentum and Bath were left on the back foot for the rest of the game. Rhys Priestland kicked two penalties in the first half but the hosts went into the break 6-12 down after Alapati Leiua had touch down a second for the Bears.
Harry Randall stretched the lead for the visitors meaning a late Will Chudley try was only enough to gain a losing bonus point for the Blue, Black and Whites.
There were plenty of moments when Bath came close to scoring and this is ultimately what the Bath director of rugby was upset about.
