Bristol Bears 35-46: Hat-trick for Campbell Ridl to put Chiefs in charge

By Mark Stevens

Bristol Bears ……………….35ts

Tries: Owen 40, Pepper 48, Lane 52, Gwilliam 71, Worsley 79

Conversions: Worsley 40, 49, 53, 71, 80

Exeter Chiefs ……………..46pts

Tries: Ridl 4, 32, 55; John 11, Norey 29′, 43; Brown-Bampoe 65, Pearson 75

Conversions: Hodge 11; Haydon-Wood 56, 76

Campbell Ridl is learning fast – too fast, in fact, for defences trying to keep pace with his rise – as he helped inspire victory for Exeter Chiefs over Bristol Bears.

The Exeter winger has lived a full rugby season in microcosm over recent months – flashes of brilliance, harsh lessons, and the kind of exposure that hardens talent into reliability.

At Ashton Gate, however, he delivered his loudest statement yet.

The 21-year-old bagged his first senior hat-trick as Chiefs ran in eight tries to beat Bristol, a result that hauls them to within a single point of Pool A leaders Gloucester.

Huge talent

It was a wet, chaotic contest, but amid the noise, Ridl’s influence cut cleanest, the winger leading the way in a performance that underlined just how quickly he is growing into senior rugby.

Chiefs defence coach Haydn Thomas was quick to underline Ridl’s trajectory: “Campbell is making great progress, he’s a huge talent.

“Yes, he’s got a long way to go, but he’s great on the ball, he’s good in his kick chase and he’s just a pleasure to work with.

“He’s getting his opportunities because he has earned them.”

Quick learner: Campbell Ridl on the way to his hat-trick for Exeter Chiefs yesterday
PICTURE: Getty Images

Match action

Rob Baxter‘s side wasted no time asserting themselves. Inside five minutes, Ridl had crossed for the opening score. 

A sequence of controlled attacking phases dragged Bristol infield, allowing Will Haydon-Wood to loop a pass wide where Ridl finished in the right corner.

Moments later, they struck again. From a centre-field scrum, Haydon-Wood spotted space and delivered a pinpoint cross-field kick into the hands of Dan John, who touched down unopposed.

Josh Hodge converted, and suddenly Bristol were chasing shadows.

Despite some lineout instability, the visitors remained composed. Ridl nearly doubled his tally but was held up just short before hooker Max Norey burrowed over.

The winger would not be kept quiet for long. After clever approach work – including a punt downfield from Norey and a crucial turnover from Rus Tuima – the ball was shipped wide and Ridl applied the finish with authority.

Exeter’s dominance deservedly carried them into the break in control, although Bristol snatched a lifeline on the stroke of half-time when Joe Owen trundled over following a clever show-and-go.

Second half

The Bears emerged with renewed intent after the interval, but it was Exeter who struck first again. Norey claimed his second, driven over from a textbook rolling maul.

Bristol responded through Max Pepper and Rich Lane, their quick-fire scores swinging momentum and hauling the hosts back within a single score.

However, just as the contest threatened to tip, Ridl intervened.

Showing balance, awareness and no small amount of nerve, he picked his way through a congested defensive line to complete his hat-trick and halt the Bears’ surge.

Further tries followed at both ends. Paul Brown-Bampoe and Lewis Pearson added to Exeter’s tally, while late scores from Gwillam and Sam Worsley ensured Bristol salvaged a bonus point.

John Barnes, Bristol’s head of academy, said: “We made life hard for ourselves early on. They were excellent in that first half and put us under serious pressure.

“We showed more intent and accuracy in the second half, but in those conditions, giving a team like Exeter that kind of start is always going to make the job tough.”