Bristol Bears Edge Sale Sharks 19–17 | Player Ratings & Match Report
Rugby NewsFriday, 02 January 2026 at 21:56
By Connor Johnson
Tom O’Flaherty burst down the right wing to produce a moment of magic in the 16th minute, finishing well in the corner. George Ford successfully added the extra two points.
Joe Owen went over just before half-time to bring Bristol back on level terms after a multitude of phases. Tom Jordan made the conversion to make it 7–7 going into the break.
Ernst van Rhyn emerged through a pile of Bristol bodies to reach for the line in the 43rd minute and regain the Sharks’ lead. George Ford made the conversion.
Sale’s lead would stretch to ten, with Ford nailing a penalty after a linebreak.
Matias Moroni flew over in the corner, beating multiple Sale defenders to cut the lead down to five. Jordan missed the conversion.
Bristol would finally show their quality with eight minutes to go. Kalaveti Ravouvou cut in off the left, weaving between two Sale defenders before finishing under the sticks. Jordan added the extra two points to give the Bears a 19–17 lead.
Match Ratings
Bristol Bears
- Louis Rees-Zammit (3)
- Noah Heward (6)
- Benard Janse van Rensberg (5)
- James Williams (6)
- Kalaveti Ravouvou (7)
- Tom Jordan (5)
- Harry Randall (6)
- Ellis Genge (8)
- Gabriel Oghre (6)
- Lovejoy Chawatama (5)
- Pedro Rubiolo (6)
- Joe Owen (6)
- Santiago Grondona (5)
- Fitz Harding (6)
- Bill Mata (5)
Replacements:
16. Harry Thacker (N/A)
17. Max Lahiff (N/A)
18. George Kloska (5)
19. George Taylor (N/A)
20. Benjamin Grondona (5)
21. Kieran Marmion (6)
22. Sam Worsley (N/A)
23. Matias Moroni (7)
16. Harry Thacker (N/A)
17. Max Lahiff (N/A)
18. George Kloska (5)
19. George Taylor (N/A)
20. Benjamin Grondona (5)
21. Kieran Marmion (6)
22. Sam Worsley (N/A)
23. Matias Moroni (7)
Sale Sharks
- Joe Carpenter (6)
- Tom O’Flaherty (7)
- Rob du Preez (5)
- Rekeiti Ma’asi White (5)
- Alex Wills (N/A)
- George Ford (7)
- Raffi Quirke (8)
- Bevan Rodd (6)
- Luke Cowan-Dickie (6)
- James Harper (5)
- Ben Bamber (5)
- Ernst van Rhyn (7)
- Jacques Vermeulen (6)
- Sam Dugdale (6)
- Tom Curry (8)
Replacements:
16. Nathan Jibulu (5)
17. Si McIntyre (5)
18. Patreece Bell (6)
19. Tom Burrow (5)
20. Jos Gilmore (N/A)
21. Gus Warr (6)
22. Marius Louw (N/A)
23. Gershwin Wehr (5)
16. Nathan Jibulu (5)
17. Si McIntyre (5)
18. Patreece Bell (6)
19. Tom Burrow (5)
20. Jos Gilmore (N/A)
21. Gus Warr (6)
22. Marius Louw (N/A)
23. Gershwin Wehr (5)
Standout Performers
Tom Curry
Although the Sale number eight came out on the losing end, he can hold his head high. Dominating Bristol on both sides of the ball with his collisions and hard tackling, Curry put himself about all night, running himself into the ground before coming off. His departure coincided with a momentum shift, as Sale lost control and bite around the breakdown.
Although the Sale number eight came out on the losing end, he can hold his head high. Dominating Bristol on both sides of the ball with his collisions and hard tackling, Curry put himself about all night, running himself into the ground before coming off. His departure coincided with a momentum shift, as Sale lost control and bite around the breakdown.
Raffi Quirke
Despite not making it past the 60-minute mark, Quirke made a huge impact while he was on the field, even playing slightly out of position on the wing following the early injury to Alex Wills. He caused Bristol problems all afternoon, whether chasing high kicks or finding pockets of space, and was central to everything Sale did well.
Despite not making it past the 60-minute mark, Quirke made a huge impact while he was on the field, even playing slightly out of position on the wing following the early injury to Alex Wills. He caused Bristol problems all afternoon, whether chasing high kicks or finding pockets of space, and was central to everything Sale did well.
Ellis Genge
The clash between Genge and Curry didn’t disappoint, with the England internationals going at each other from the first whistle. It was the loosehead who came out on top, impressing with his linebreaks and work at the lineout, causing chaos whenever he carried. It also marked a third consecutive Man of the Match performance, as Genge looks back to his dominant best.
The clash between Genge and Curry didn’t disappoint, with the England internationals going at each other from the first whistle. It was the loosehead who came out on top, impressing with his linebreaks and work at the lineout, causing chaos whenever he carried. It also marked a third consecutive Man of the Match performance, as Genge looks back to his dominant best.
Underperformers
Tom Jordan
Although the New Zealander showed promise in the final 5–10 minutes, he looked uncomfortable for large periods. Every high ball felt contestable, with Sale swarming the Bristol fly-half and pressuring him into uncharacteristic errors through line speed and physicality. As the game opened up late on, Jordan found more space and will look to bounce back next week against the Bulls in the Champions Cup.
Although the New Zealander showed promise in the final 5–10 minutes, he looked uncomfortable for large periods. Every high ball felt contestable, with Sale swarming the Bristol fly-half and pressuring him into uncharacteristic errors through line speed and physicality. As the game opened up late on, Jordan found more space and will look to bounce back next week against the Bulls in the Champions Cup.
Louis Rees-Zammit
Bristol head coach Pat Lam explained last week that moving Rees-Zammit to fullback was intended to give him more opportunities on the ball. While it paid off against the Red Bulls, it failed to have the same effect against a physical Sale defence. Rees-Zammit struggled to influence proceedings and was unable to make it past half-time with a suspected cold.
Bristol head coach Pat Lam explained last week that moving Rees-Zammit to fullback was intended to give him more opportunities on the ball. While it paid off against the Red Bulls, it failed to have the same effect against a physical Sale defence. Rees-Zammit struggled to influence proceedings and was unable to make it past half-time with a suspected cold.
Rob du Preez
Du Preez never quite found his rhythm and was unable to leave his usual mark on the game. While his opposite number Janse van Rensburg also had a quieter evening, the physical, attritional nature of the contest didn’t suit the Sale centre, who fell short of the high standards he sets himself.
Du Preez never quite found his rhythm and was unable to leave his usual mark on the game. While his opposite number Janse van Rensburg also had a quieter evening, the physical, attritional nature of the contest didn’t suit the Sale centre, who fell short of the high standards he sets himself.
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- Jordie Barrett over Damian de Allende is far from being correct. The hype around Dupont is also overreaching, he's probably 4th in the world and has been since the 2023 WC. He also avoids certain matchups which is strange. The rest of the list is pretty good apart from minor subjective biases.JasonMarlow16-09-2026
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