Bristol Bears were beaten 41-36 by Sale Sharks at Ashton Gate on Saturday in Round 10 of the 2025/26 PREM Rugby Cup pool stages
Bristol Bears’ Gabriel Oghre (Photo by Bob Bradford – CameraSport via Getty Images)
Bristol Bears were beaten 41-36 at home to Sale Sharks in the final round of the PREM Rugby Cup group stages.
Neither side had any chance of progression to the semi-final stages of the competition, but it was an important match to get minutes into the legs of players before the Gallagher PREM resumes in three weeks.
READ MORE: Bristol Bears’ defeat to Sale Sharks ‘a wake-up call’ says Pat Lam
It was all action in the first half, tries from Benjamin Elizalde, Gabriel Ibitoye and Gabriel Oghre meant Bristol had 19 points going into half-time. However, Sale outscored Bristol in the first half with tries from Arron Reed, Nathan Jibulu (2), and Sam Dugdale. Three missed conversions from Rob du Preez meant that the first half ended 19-22 in favour of Sale, setting up an exciting second half of action.
All three Bears scorers managed to get themselves on the scoresheet again in the second half as Elizalde, Ibitoye and Oghre proved their quality. This wasn’t enough for the Bears as Dan du Preez, Ben Bamber and Joe Bedlow all scored. The try from Bedlow was in the 78th minute, which snatched victory from the jaws of defeat for Sale.
It is now all eyes on the Gallagher PREM for Bristol as they travel to Leicester Tigers on March 22nd in their quest to stay in the top four.
Rugby writer Harry Papworth takes a closer look at the individual performances from the Bristol Bears players…
15. Rich Lane – N/A
Went off in the first minute with what looked like a nasty hamstring injury.
14. Kalaveti Ravouvou – 6
Ravouvou had a decent game. He was a pivotal part in Ibitoye’s first try as he chipped over the top of Sale full-back Joe Carpenter to allow his fellow winger to regather the bouncing ball and dot down.
13. Jack Bates – 6
Bates didn’t do much wrong. He looked solid in the centres and then moved on to the right wing for the last ten minutes of the game, where the ball didn’t get out to him much.
12. Benhard Janse van Rensburg – 7
Janse van Rensburg displayed slick hands on multiple occasions today, glueing the midfield to the back-three to create try-scoring opportunities. He was also mega in defence, putting in a huge tackle late on in the game, which stopped Sale’s attacking flow.
11. Gabriel Ibitoye – 8
Ibitoye looked dangerous throughout the game, and he was rewarded with two tries. His first came from regathering a bouncing ball out wide, with great desire to get his hands on the pill first. His second try was great. He had a two-on-one with the last Sale defender, which he didn’t need! He used his pace to run around the outside of the defender and score in the corner.
10. James Williams – 8
Williams looked at home in the ten jersey. He read the game very well and picked out the right passes at the right times, freeing up the dangerous backs that Bristol have. He kicked well and looked good off the tee, slotting 2/3 of his kicks.
9. Harry Randall – 6
Randall played with purpose and he gave his side quick ball from the base of the ruck. Randall wanted to play fast today and did, often quick-tapping penalties and catching the Sharks defenders off guard.
1. Max Lahiff – 5
Bristol’s scrum wasn’t firing in the first half, conceding them many penalties and allowing Sale to get the upper hand. Lahiff, who is one of those who has signed a new contract this week, was decent around the park but ultimately got subbed off at half-time because of the underperforming scrum.
2. Gabriel Oghre – 7
Oghre managed to get himself over the try line twice today. His first was a trademark try, at the back of a good driving maul in which the backs added their muscle. His second try took a bit more work. Ibitoye managed to find space at the base of the breakdown and burst through the defensive line. The hooker managed to get himself in support and used his pace and muscle to power over the line.
3. George Kloska – 5
In a similar fashion to Lahiff, Kloska was subbed off at half-time. The Bears’ scrum was going backwards in the first half, and Pat Lam needed to change something. Kloska did, however, have a good carry in the first half, finding space and taking defenders down with him.
4. George Taylor – 6
Yet again, Taylor had a good showing in the PREM Rugby Cup. He was good in the lineout and often disrupted Sale’s attacking ball. Taylor went off in the second half but worked hard when he was on the field.
5. Joe Batley – 5
Batley didn’t do too much wrong. In true engine room fashion, he was in lots of rucks and charged down lots of balls.
6. Santiago Grondona – 5
The Argentine had a decent outing. He was often at the heart of Bristol’s defensive efforts. Grondona also has great hands and his ‘pull out the back’ to one of his playmakers looked effortless.
7. Fitz Harding (c) – 6
Bristol’s captain was first to a few bouncing balls, often finding himself at the right place at the right time. He went off early in the second half. I expect big things to come from Harding when the Gallagher PREM returns in three weeks’ time.
8. Viliame Mata – 7
Mata often got Bristol going forward, steaming into contact and taking defenders with him. He made a few classic Mata tackles, smashing into his opposition whenever he could. A good outing for the returning Fijian.
Replacements
16. Harry Thacker – 5
17. Sam Grahamslaw – 6
18. Jimmy Halliwell – 6
19. James Dun – 5
20. Joe Owen – 5
21. Kieran Marmion – 6
22. Sam Worsley – 5
23. Benjamin Elizalde – 8
Elizalde unexpectedly played most of the game as he replaced the injured Rich Lane in the opening minute. Before you knew he was on the field he was over the whitewash as he scored in the second minute. Viliame Mata stormed through the middle of the park and linked up with his team-mate Ibitoye. Eventually, the ball got out to Elizalde who finished in the corner. The Argentine managed to score again in the second half as he made a looping run around Janse van Rensburg to have an easy run in. A good performance from the bench.