By Connor Johnson on RUCK debut
Newcastle went into their game away to Bristol, still without a win in the Premiership after 7 games, whereas Bristol knew a bonus point win would take them to only two points behind leaders Bath.
But it would be the visitors who started quicker as Murray McCallum broke off from a ruck lineout to give the Red Bulls the lead, one would become two as off another lineout the ball would make its way from left to right, ending up in the hands of Oli Spencer who sprinted to the line beating Ravouvou extend Newcastle’s lead to 10-0 after 14 minutes.
Bristol would get back into the game with Louis Rees-Zammit being moved to fullback today by Pat Lam, finding himself in space after some quick passing, and no one was catching the Welsh flyer.
Newcastle’s lead would be gone in an instant with Rees Zammit turning provider, bursting through a couple of Newcastle defenders before giving off to Mathias Moroni to give the Bears a 12-10 lead, with Tom Jordan adding the conversion.
The visitors would be ahead again after a kick and chase, which turned into a ruck, allowing them to get a penalty, which they kicked to the corner, allowing Ollie Leatherbarrow to go over for his second try in as many games. Brett Connon would add his first extras for the day.
HALFTIME: Bristol Bears 12-17 Newcastle Red Bulls
Connon would add another three to the Newcastle tally just after the half-time break to make it 20-12.
Almost instantly from the restart, Noah Heward cut the deficit again, after intricate play between Tom Jordan and Gabriel Oghre to cut the lead to three.
Oli Spencer would go over for another flying try, not before the buildup for one of the best team tries you’ll see this weekend, with Newcastle getting their first bonus point of the season.
Off the bench, Ellis Genge was on a rampage, breaking from near the halfway line, setting up, and going from right to left, before leaving it to Moroni and Ravouvou to finish what he started. 27-22 Newcastle.
Rees-Zammit made it a double, stepping inside and bursting past Newcastle defenders coming off their line, and the winger turned fullback for today gave Bristol their first lead since the 22nd minute.
The hosts got their sixth try, Gabriel Oghre sticking to the back of the maul from a lineout, with Bristol almost having their whole team willing the ruck over the line.
Bristol would have a nervy ending to the game as first Joe Batley would be sent off for head contact whilst trying to clear out, they would end the game with 13, with Ravouvou committing a deliberate knock on.
FULLTIME: BRISTOL BEARS 36-27 NEWCASTLE RED BULLS
Bristol Bears: 36
Tries: 6 (Rees-Zammit 19’,56 Moroni 21’, Heward 44’, Ravouvou 50’, Oghre 60’)
Conversions: 2 (Jordan 22’, 57’)
Penalties: 0
Yellow cards: 1 (Ravouvou 77’)
Red cards: 1 (Batley 66’)
15. Louis Rees-Zammit 14. Noah Heward 13. Matias Moroni 12. James Williams 11. Kalaveti Ravouvou 10. Tom Jordan 9. Harry Randall 1. Max Lahiff 2. Harry Thacker 3. Lovejoy Chawatama 4. George Taylor 5. Joe Batley 6. Joe Owen 7. Fitz Harding 8. Bill Mata
Replacements: 16. Gabriel Oghre 17. Ellis Genge 18. Jimmy Halliwell 19. Pedro Rubiolo 20. Luka Ivanishvilli 21. Sam Wolstenholme 22. Sam Worsley 23. Rich Lane
Newcastle Red Bulls: 27
Tries: 4 (McCallum 6’, Spencer 14’, 47’, Leatherbarrow 26’)
Conversions: 2 (Connonn 27’, 48’)
Penalties: 1 (Cannon 43’)
Yellow cards: 0
Red cards: 0
15. Ethan Grayson 14. Oli Spencer 13. Alex Hearle 12. Sammy Arnold 11. Elliott Obatoyinbo 10. Brett Connon 9. Simon Benitez Cruz 8. Ollie Leatherburrow 7. Tom Christie 6. Tom Gordon 5.Sebastian de Chaves 4. Oscar Usher 3. Murray McCallum 2. George McGuigan 1. Adam Brocklebank
Replacements: 16. Ollie Fletcher 17. Connor Hancock 18. Richard Palframan 19. Finn Baker 20. Amanaki Mafi 21. James Elliott 22. Boeta Chamberlain 23. Cammy Hutchison
2026 Six Nations Watch
Ahead of the Six Nations getting underway in just under two months here are some players who caught the eye between Bristol and Newcastle.
Louis Rees-Zammit
The Welsh flyer was moved to full-back against Newcastle by Pat Lam, in an attempt to get him more touches of the ball, and it paid off for them with Rees-Zammit getting two tries and an assist from a position that he isn’t too accustomed to, but after today Lam might be convinced to play him in that position more often if that’s what he can get out of him. This
performance will certainly catch the eye of Wales coach Steve Tandy, who gave the winger his last cap in their autumn international against Argentina, that being his first since the 2023 world cup, before Rees-Zammit ventured to America to try out for the NFL, but this performance against the Red Bulls would hope to put him in a position to start in their first six nations game against England on 7 February.
Ellis Genge
Genge is one of the first names on Scott Borthwick’s team sheet when available and was a consistent performer during the British and Irish tour of Australia. Due to the experience he brings and also his ability as a gamebreaker, to be able to split open a defence with his bulldozing runs or explosive power. He’ll hope to become more of a mainstay within the Bears XV after only making his 4th premiership appearance of the season, trying to stave off young talents such as Fin Baxter or Asher Opoku-Fordjour.
Oli Spencer
Speaking of young talents, Oli Spencer will hope to be given a chance by Scott Borthwick in the not-too-distant future after impressing for Newcastle this season, as well as coming through the England youth setups like the U18s and U20s. He’s one who’s been plagued by serious ACL injuries in his short professional career. He gives the England coach flexibility with his ability to play both on the wing and as a centre, as well as his availability starting in all of Newcastle’s premiership games so far this season.
Joe Batley
Whilst he hasn’t currently made an appearance in an England senior jersey, he gave a good impression of himself when he was given a chance for England A against the All Blacks XV, even scoring a try. Like Spencer, he has been capped at England youth levels, albeit almost a decade ago, and whilst the England second row is one of their most stacked position, a couple of injuries to players such as Hugh Tizard and Nick Isiekwe could open the door for the former Worcester Warrior to force his way into Borthwick’s Six Nations squad.
Ollie Leatherbarrow
Leatherbarrow was dominant today, even though he came out on the losing side, and has been impressing for Alan Dickens’ side, who are still without a win this season in the premiership, which shows the level that the number 8 has been at. His strong running and hard tackling proved to be a nuisance all day for the Bears, capping it off with a try. His skillset looks to be ready for International rugby, even if there are more experienced players currently in his position within the international set up.
