Bristol Bears thump Leicester Tigers to set away win record | Gallagher Premiership
Bristol Bears run in eight tries against Leicester Tigers to seal record 10th straight away win; Bath top at Christmas after second-half show at Newcastle Falcons clinches fifth straight win; Sale extend Exeter Chiefs' winless start to season with bonus-point win
Last Updated: 21/12/24 8:55pm

Bristol sent out a major title statement as Pat Lam's men set a new Premiership record in a thumping 54-24 win over Leicester at Welford Road.
The visitors served up an impressive eight-try crushing of fellow high-flyers Leicester and celebrated a remarkable record 10th successive away victory - beating Saracens' previous best of nine wins.
Leicester also conceded a record-equalling number of points in a Premiership contest as Gabriel Oghre and Kalaveti Ravouvou each grabbed a brace of tries.
This mauling of fellow hopefuls Tigers demonstrated just how clinical and overpowering they can be. Boss Lam seems to have found the right recipe of balancing an aggressive style with equally aggressive fortitude and resistance.
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Bears were in full control of this contest by the break following a fast, furious and frantic 40 minutes where both sides threw caution to the wind but it was the visitors who growled loudest - and into a 40-12 half-time lead.
Six tries to two was an impressive haul and advantage for a Bristol side who had fallen behind to Ollie Hassell-Collins' early score. The wing celebrated signing a recent new contract by diving over.
Yet, it merely poked the Bears into a fierce and angry response.
Firstly, Ellis Genge fed hooker Oghre to cross unchallenged after a fine attack. AJ MacGinty added the extras and did so again when Oghre bulldozed over from close range for his second try.
Tigers raced down the other end of the field with Hassell-Collins showing his pace again to complete his brace.
The home cheers turned to more groans as Bears' centre Ravouvou strolled nonchalantly over for a try and he was followed by the huge frame of Viliame Mata.
The 6ft 5in, 19st Fijian forward sealed the bonus-point try as he crashed his way over from a few yards.
Full-back Rich Lane finished off the best of the first-half half dozen Bears tries. The visitors broke from deep and Lane juggled the ball before crossing the line.

Sam Worsley, who had replaced the injured MacGinty, converted but missed his next kick after wing Gabriel Ibitoye sauntered over the Tigers line for try number six.
Leicester badly needed the early second-half try provided by Freddie Steward which lifted spirits, along with the yellow card for Bristol's Oghre for foul play at the preceding lineout.
Benhard Janse van Rensburg's charge-down try extinguished the small chink of Tigers' light as Bears regained their grip and Ravouvou put the icing on the Bears' Christmas cake with a 60-yard solo effort.
Josh Bassett's try in added time at least salvaged a try bonus point for the hosts.
Lam salutes 'huge' Bristol performance
Bristol Bears head coach Pat Lam: "It was an excellent performance from all the guys. Putting 50 points over them at Welford Road is huge for us. It was certainly one of the best first-half displays we have had since I've been here.
"The performance looked like the way we have been training - with real confidence and belief. I was really pleased with the skill and execution showed in that first half. We were not on it so much in the second, but we are happy with the result.
"Now we have a short turnaround at home to Sale on Friday night. It's important we continue trying to build on what we have done so far this season and improve even more. But the signs are very good, and we are heading in the right direction."

Bath top at Christmas after flooring Falcons
Bath claimed their fifth successive Gallagher Premiership victory with a 40-15 win over Newcastle at Kingston Park that keeps them top of the standings.
A breathless start to the game saw a Jamie Blamire try put the hosts ahead barely a minute in and although Alfie Barbeary quickly responded for Bath, Freddie Lockwood's converted score saw Newcastle leading 12-7 after just eight minutes.
However, that was about as good as it got for the struggling Falcons and tries from Tom de Glanville and Will Stuart gave the visitors a six-point advantage at the break before Bath stormed away in the second half.
Charlie Ewels added Bath's fourth try to bag the bonus point before Finn Russell - who also slotted over five conversions - and Sam Underhill went over in the final 15 minutes to earn their side a seventh win of the season, while the Falcons remain second-bottom after slumping to a sixth loss.

Sale stay perfect at home with bonus-point Exeter win
Sale secured a 28-10 bonus-point victory which maintained their 100 per cent winning home record this season and condemned rock-bottom Exeter to another loss.
Centre Luke James and full-back Joe Carpenter scored first-half tries before a penalty try and Jonny Hill's score gave Alex Sanderson's men a five-point haul and left the Chiefs with eight straight Premiership defeats this season.
It was also Exeter's 10th straight reverse in major competitions following their back-to-back setbacks against the Sharks and Toulouse in the European Champions Cup.
Rob Baxter's visitors, who also lost England winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso to a shoulder injury during the first half, fought hard in difficult conditions but Sale were worthy winners.
The hosts had picked up maximum points against Racing 92 last weekend and they remain unbeaten in the north west in all competitions so far this campaign.
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