Bristol Bears 25-14 Leicester Tigers: Two-try Gabriel Ibitoye stars as Bears kick off Premiership season with big win

Bristol Bears got the Gallagher Premiership Rugby season off to a flyer with an excellent display to beat Leicester Tigers at Ashton Gate in the opening match of the season.

The brilliant Gabriel Ibitoye starred in a one-sided first half, scoring the first try after just two minutes as the Bears came flying out of the traps.

A perfectly executed rolling maul gave Bristol their second try of the evening, before Ibitoye’s flamboyant finish made it three scores in just 23 one-sided minutes of the match.

Leicester came back into the game after the break, although the Tigers never really managed to supply their backline with quick ball, and fell short despite winning the second half with a two-try comeback thanks to Dan Kelly and Hanro Liebenberg.

Bristol’s defence withstood some late pressure to secure a win that gets the Premiership season off to a fascinating start.

There was an extra boost to fans watching on TNT Sports 1 late in the game as Bristol handed a debut to star summer signing Virimi Vakatawa.

It’s an exciting prospect for Bristol to be able to bring a player of that sort of quality into a team that are already clicking to this degree.

A Bears team with both Vakatawa and Ibitoye in it is something people will definitely be tuning in for.

Two stunning first-half tries set the tone for the match. Ibitoye’s second try was particularly eye-catching, with the winger carrying the ball in one hand in the sort of way young players dream of doing when they grow up. It was his kick and chase that earned Bristol the field position for their second try of the match too.

Bristol Bears: Rich Lane 8, Gabriel Ibitoye 9, Benhard Janse van Rensburg 7, James Williams 8, Noah Heward 7, AJ MacGinty 7, Harry Randall 8; Jake Woolmore 8, Harry Thacker 8, Jay Tyack 7, James Dun 7, Joe Batley 7, Fitz Harding (c) 8, Dan Thomas 8, Magnus Bradbury 7. Replacements: Will Capon 7, Andrew Turner 8, George Kloska 7, Josh Caulfield 7, Steven Luatua 8, Kieran Marmion 7, Virimi Vakatawa 7, Piers O’Connor 7

Leicester Tigers: Mike Brown 5, Josh Bassett 6, Guy Porter 5, Dan Kelly 6, Ollie Hassell-Collins 5, Charlie Atkinson 5, Joe Powell , Francois Van Wyk 6, Charlie Clare 6, Joe Heyes 6, Cameron Henderson 5, Harry Wells 5, Hanro Liebenberg (c) 7, Olly Cracknell 6, Matt Rogerson 6. Replacements: Nic Dolly 7, James Whitcombe 7, Will Hurd 7, Mike Williams 6, Kyle Hatherell 6, Tom Whiteley 7, Jamie Shillcock 8, Phil Cokanasiga

What a start! That is beautiful rugby from Bristol, opening up space on the short side and a chip through is chased down by Gabriel Ibitoye who touches down in the corner. The conversion from a tight angle slides wide.

Bristol win the lineout and they set up the maul, driving towards the line as green-shirted defenders drop off. It’s another score and it’s Harry Thacker who emerges from the bottom of the pile with the ball.

And another! Play breaks down in Bristol territory and they spot the opportunity, putting Ibitoye into space as he bursts towards the line. A last-gasp tackle almost denies him, but his strength and reach with the one-handed carry allows him to stretch out and get the score. MacGinty slots the extra points once more.

I was just about to say how a Leicester attack looked toothless when a decent chase from Dan Kelly and a slightly fortuitous bounce of the ball gave the Leicester centre a try under the post, leaving a simple conversion for the extra two points.

It’s another try for Leicester as they go through phase after phase in Bristol territory, asking big questions of the defensive line with heavy carries, and it’s the big captain Liebenberg who bursts through a gap and touches down.

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