Leicester go top, Bristol punished down to thirteen

Premiership Round 5 opened on Friday with a duel between the league’s 2nd and 3rd-placed sides. It was a match for top spot, and Leicester won it in one precise moment. Down to thirteen after yellow cards for Matias Moroni (31st) and Tom Jordan (34th), Bristol conceded two tries in five minutes, from Adam Radwan (36th) and Ollie Hassell-Collins (41st). They never got back in front.

Rees-Zammit shines, Searle decides

Louis Rees-Zammit had nonetheless set the Bears off with a personal moment of brilliance, a 35-metre slalom finished between the posts in the 5th minute. But the match belonged to Billy Searle. Leicester’s fly-half, a former Bristol man, found Freddie Steward and then Hassell-Collins with cross-kicks, and sent Radwan away with a long kick downfield. Steward scored on the day of his 100th Premiership start, the Guardian noted.

A bonus point off a driving maul

Back to 13-17 thanks to two penalties from James Williams, Bristol saw Jamie Blamire bring up the bonus point off a driving maul in the 63rd minute. Williams pulled his side back within six points again (72nd), earning the Bears the defensive bonus point, and Searle hit the post with a late penalty.

Leicester have 20 points after five rounds, four more than Gloucester, who have a game in hand. Bristol stay 3rd with 15 points.