London Irish 7-36 Bristol: Bears creep into Premiership semi-finals after five-try domination at the Stoop… with Saracens’ draw with Bath booking Pat Lam’s side’s place
- London Irish welcomed Bristol to the Stoop on Sunday night in the Premiership
- The hosts were no match as the Bears dominated with five tries before the end
- Semi Radradra, Ben Earl, Harry Thacker, Will Capon added to a penalty try
- Bristol’s place in the Premiership semi-finals was confirmed by Bath’s draw
Bristol will appear in their first Premiership semi-final since 2007 after Saracens’ draw with Bath and their five-try win over London Irish confirmed their dramatic qualification.
Gathered round a computer screen for two minutes after their side had just scored a fifth try to beat the Exiles Pat Lam, chief executive Chris Booy, No 8 Nathan Hughes and the backroom team waited nervously for confirmation of their fate.
And when they saw Maro Itoje flick a lineout into touch to confirm Saracens had drawn with Bath the Bears knew they were in their first playoff semi-final in 13 years.
Bristol Bears are into the Premiership play-off semi-finals after beating London Irish 36-7
Bristol stormed to victory with five tries, Semi Radradra scoring the first in the dominant win
Hughes lept up screaming ‘chaa-hoo’ and Booy punched the air in an empty Stoop – billionaires Bristol had done it.
Tries from Semi Radradra, Ben Earl, Harry Thacker, Will Capon and a penalty try had made sure they held up their end of the bargain.
‘As soon as we got the bonus point I knew it was job done,’ said boss Pat Lam.
‘At the very end I saw Maro pinch that ball – it showed the quality of the player that he is!
Pat Lam and staff couldn’t celebrate until they saw that Saracens’ clash vs Bath ended a draw
‘We’ve fully earnt our right to be where we are now.
‘I’m so proud of everyone at the club. Three years ago we were in the Championship. This is what the dream is – to be going to titles, playing in finals and in games that matter.
‘We’ve got a great opportunity to prepare for two finals. There’s no point going into the semi if you’re not going for the final and no point showing up in the final if you don’t go and win the trophy.
‘We’ve overachieved in terms of where the expectation was, but not in terms of the work everyone has put in. It’s been a very good season but we’re not finished, we want the trophies.’
Harry Randall kicks long as London Irish struggled to contain the visitors to the Stoop
All Bristol could do amid the latest Premiership farce was to score four tries and wait.
They should have had three by half-time, but Max Malins agonisingly dropped one over the line when clean through after Radradra and Earl had taken a try each.
With 20 minutes to go Ollie Hassell-Collins scored a superb solo effort as Bristol searched for two more themselves.
Thacker went over from a maul as time ticked on and as it looked like the Bears might fall short of their four-try an Irish cross-kick dropped out on the full, giving the visitors a five-metre lineout.
Bristol have to wait until Wednesday when they will find out their opponents, Exeter or Wasps
From the resulting maul the vital penalty try came, meaning Bristol had a five-point win.
A minute later Tim Swinson’s try and Manu Vunipola’s conversion for Saracens drew them level with Bath.
Capon scored a fifth at the Stoop and when the full-time whistle blew in Barnet, Bristol were in the playoffs – but they will have to wait until Wednesday to see whether Wasps or Exeter meet them.