Bristol Bears player ratings from Bath Rugby win - 'A dream debut'

Bristol Bears beat Bath Rugby 36-26 at the Recreation Ground on Saturday in Round Three of the 2024/25 Gallagher Premiership

Bristol Bears secured an impressive 36-26 derby win over highly fancied neighbours Bath Rugby at the Recreation Ground on Saturday to spark wild celebrations at the final whisle

Debutant Santiago Grondona touched down for a brace of tries having returned from international duty with Argentina in the Rugby Championship earlier in the week. He was joined on the scoresheet by full-back Max Malins, centre Benhard Janse van Rensburg and hooker Gabriel Oghre, with fly-half AJ MacGinty kicking four conversions and a penalty for 11 points.

READ MORE: Bath Rugby 26-36 Bristol Bears LIVE: Reaction and highlights from the Recreation Ground

Bath trailed 26-7 at half-time having been a distant second best, with just a 55m solo wonder-try from Sam Harris to show for their efforts. Centres Will Butt and Ollie Lawrence and lock Ross Molony crossed the whitewash in the second half as the hosts’ superior bench and need to restore some pride sparked a comeback, led by fly-half Finn Russell who added three conversions for six points. But Bristol were always in the driving seat and claimed an impressive win on the road.

South West rugby writer John Evely takes a closer look at the individual performances from the Bristol Bears players…

15. Max Malins - 7

The full-back continued his hot streak of try scoring with his fifth score of the campaign, which considering the leading try-scorer in the league normally finishes with about a dozen is some going.

14. Rich Lane - 7

Brought into the side in the place of the injured Siva Naulago, the winger had a relatively quite game with ball in hand, but was solid throughout on both sides of the ball.

11. Gabriel Ibitoye - 7

The winger made a powerful burst through the centre in the build-up to Malin’s try and looked to have chosen the wrong option in not giving the pass and trying to beat one more defender, but never underestimate his offloading ability as he managed to keep the ball alive and the Bears scored after 86 seconds. The only major blot on his copy book was a frankly terrible attempt at a tackle on Sam Harris which allowed the Bath full back to break the line and score a stunning solo effort.

13. Benhard Janse van Rensburg - 9

The South African was back to his very best, barnstorming his way over the gain line time after time despite lining up against two centres who were both nominated for the Premiership Player of the Month award for September. He set the tone with his desire, and that tone was we will not be denied as displayed when he crashed over for a try in the 27th minute. Indomitable.

12. James Williams - 7

The centre suffered a shoulder injury midway through the first half but still had time to make a vital try-saving tackle on Ted Hill, dislodging the ball with his foot after the flanker had crossed the line. He also gave the scoring pass for Malins’ opening try.

11. Gabriel Ibitoye - 7

The winger made a powerful burst through the centre in the build-up to Malin’s try and looked to have chosen the wrong option in not giving the pass and trying to beat one more defender, but never underestimate his offloading ability as he managed to keep the ball alive and the Bears scored after just 86 seconds. The only major blot on his copy book was a frankly terrible attempt at a tackle on Sam Harris which allowed the Bath full back to break the line and score a stunning solo effort.

10. AJ MacGinty - 7

Having shown off his running game last weekend against Gloucester, the fly-half was more of a passing threat at the Rec, creating the hole for Ibitoye to go through in the build-up for the Bears’ first try with a beautifully timed delayed pass. His running game was still a threat and it was the veteran’s break that led to Sam Underhill getting a late yellow card which halted Bath’s comeback attempt.

9. Harry Randall - 8

Having been named in Steve Borthwick’s England squad for the Autumn on Friday, he won his head-to-head with Ben Spencer to put down a real marker. He injected pace, with accuracy throughout.

1. Ellis Genge - 7

The England loosehead held his own in the scrum against Springbok Thomas du Toit and was prominent in the loose, showing great handling ability to give a quick inside pass to Santiago Grondona to put the flanker through a hole to score his first try. He has guile and skill in combination with the raw power.

2. Gabriel Oghre - 9

Starting his third straight game with Harry Thacker having picked up an injury in training this week, the hooker responded to not being included in Borthwick’s England squad - having tour New Zealand in the summer without playing - by having his best game for the Bears. Oghre was everywhere on the pitch as a running threat and showed great instincts to take a quick tap and drive for the line before cleverly popping a short pass to Janse van Rensburg to deceive the defence. Got his reward with a maul try as well.

3. Max Lahiff - 8

The tighthead had a phenomenal shift in the scrum as he got on top of England hopeful Beno Obano and was a key figure in Bristol winning the physical contest.

4. James Dun - 8

The Bristol lock had one of his best games for the club as he defined industriousness with a tireless defensive effort, with his red scrum-capped head seemingly popping up all over the pitch.

5. Joe Batley - 8

Bristol’s biggest player did understood his assignment to bring physicality and caught the eye with a couple of long looping runs.

6. Steven Luatua - 7

The flanker had a more prominent display as Bristol managed to win the battle of the backrows despite Bath’s embarrassment of riches in that area as the Samoa international help deliver quick, clean ball for Randall.

7. Santiago Grondona - 9

Finally making his Bristol Bears debut after signing a year ago only to suffer a horrible knee injury in the lead-up to the Rugby World Cup, the Argentina international was absolutely outstanding as he scored two superb tries, combining the running of intelligent lines and power.

8. Fitz Harding - 7

The skipper’s engine is simply incredible as he covered every blade of grass. Growing as a leader.

Replacements:

16. Will Capon - 6

17. Jake Woolmore

18. George Kloska - 7

19. Joe Owen - 6

20. Benjamin Grondona - 7

21. Kieran Marmion - 7

22. Joe Jenkins - 8

23. Jack Bates - N/A