| Bristol Bears: (7) 17 |
| Tries: Marmion, Ibitoye, Bradbury Cons: MacGinty |
| Bulls: (10) 31 |
| Tries: Petersen, Mchunu, Louw, Wessels Pens: Goosen Cons: Kriel, Goosen 3 |
Bristol Bears’ hopes of progressing in the Investec Champions Cup were dealt a massive blow as they were overwhelmed by South African side Bulls.
Scrum-half Kieran Marmion scored for the Bears as they trailed the visitors 10-7 at half-time at Ashton Gate.
Bulls dominated the second half after Bristol prop Max Lahiff was sent to the sin-bin, running in three tries for a bonus-point victory in Pool 1.
Gabriel Ibitoye and Magnus Bradbury replied but Bristol were well beaten.
The defeat leaves Bristol needing to beat Connacht away in their final group game, and hope other results go their way, if they are to make the last 16.
Line-ups
Bristol: Malins; Heward, Janse van Rensburg, Williams, Ibitoye; MacGinty, Marmion; Grahamslaw, Oghre, Kloska, Caulfield, Batley, Luatua (capt), Thomas, Bradbury.
Replacements: Capon, Woolmore, Lahiff, Owen, Heenan, Randall, Vakatawa, Lane.
Sin-bin: Lahiff (44 mins)
Bulls: Williams; De Klerk, Kriel, Vorster, Petersen; Goosen, Papier; Steenekamp, Wessels, Louw, Vermaak, Ludwig, Coetzee (capt), Louw, Gumede.
Replacements: Lange, Matanzima, Mchunu, Nortje, Slabbert, Johannes, Smith, Immelman.
Sin-bin: Goosen (10 mins)
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (Fra)
