Ibitoye-inspired Bears weather Chiefs storm

■By BEN JAYCOCK

Bristol Bears ………………..20pts

Tries: Ibitoye 27, Ivanishvili 79

Conversions: Williams 28, 80

Penalties: Williams 30, 77

Exeter Chiefs …………………7pts

Try: Fisilau 53

Conversion: Slade 54

FACING nightmare conditions for a hot-stepping, pacy wing, Gabriel Ibitoye rose to the occasion with key contributions that gave pragmatic Bristol the West Country honours over Exeter.

A rain-soaked Ashton Gate ruled out any running rugby, with this attritional contest being one for any purists who were left unimpressed by the Prem’s try bonanza a fortnight ago.

Tries from Ibitoye and Luka Ivanishvili secured Bristol’s third league victory of the campaign, with centre James Williams contributing ten points from the tee.

Ibitoye, rock solid under the high ball, also secured a vital jackal turnover on his own try line and set up Ivanishvili’s match-sealing score.

England scrum-half Harry Randall thrived in the wet with an outstanding performance, controlling territory and creating Ibitoye’s opening try as Pat Lam‘s side overcame fierce winds and driving rain brought by Storm Austen.

Randall said: “We’re really pleased because we prepared for this all week. We knew what the weather forecast was going to be, so we spoke about being physical up front, because you have to be against Exeter. We also talked about doing the dirty work – the things that don’t necessarily require huge amounts of skill.

“We knew we were going to have to kick more in those conditions and I thought our pack were brilliant around the breakdown and in the tight areas. I’m really proud of them. One of our biggest focuses in pre-season was our defence and also making smarter decisions. I think we’ve come on leaps and bounds in that area at the start of this season.”

The victory followed Bristol’s earlier league successes against Sale and defending champions Northampton, while Exeter suffered another defeat after last weekend’s narrow Champions Cup loss to Toulouse.

Both sides struggled to establish attacking rhythm in the treacherous conditions, with handling errors and an intense territorial battle dominating proceedings.

Bristol almost made the perfect start when Exeter failed to deal with AJ MacGinty’s high kick, forcing Henry Slade to scramble behind his own line.

Ellis Genge subsequently went close from a five-metre scrum but was held up, while Exeter prop Josh Iosefa-Scott spilled possession attempting to score at the opposite end.

The breakthrough eventually arrived when Randall spotted space on the left and delivered a superb 20-metre pass to

Ibitoye. The winger gathered possession, checked his run and beat Sam Wolstenholme before finishing in the corner.

The hosts continued to dominate territory, with MacGinty winning a breakdown penalty after another high kick caused problems for Exeter’s back three. Williams converted from 30 metres to extend Bristol’s lead to ten points at the interval.

Exeter emerged with greater purpose after the interval and should have reduced the deficit when Wolstenholme grubbered behind Bristol’s defence. Louis Rees-Zammit failed to gather cleanly, but Slade could not ground the loose ball and knocked on over the line.

The visitors finally broke through after their powerful driving maul advanced from a lineout 15 metres out with No.8 Greg Fisilau emerging with the ball to score.

Ibitoye then secured a crucial breakdown turnover as Exeter attempted to build another attack from a driving maul.

Williams provided breathing space, landing a penalty from 40 metres after a high tackle, and Bristol sealed victory three minutes later when Olly Woodburn dropped possession and Ibitoye hacked the loose ball towards the Exeter line. The winger regathered before Bristol patiently worked through eight phases, allowing Argentine lock Ivanishvili to power over from close range.

Winging in: Gabriel Ibitoye crashes through the defence to score for Bristol

PICTURES: Alamy

Try time: Greg Fisilau touches down for Exeter

CLOSE-UP

MATIAS MORONI Bristol centre V

HENRY SLADE Exeter centre

Moroni edged a physical midfield battle as the Argentine marshalled Bristol’s defensive line superbly, restricting Exeter’s attacking opportunities by making five tackles and helping keep the Chiefs scoreless before half-time. Slade showed flashes of creativity, narrowly missing out on a try after chasing a grubber, but Moroni’s defensive influence proved decisive in Bristol’s victory.