Bristol Bears 35-29 Benetton Treviso - Player Ratings as Bristol cling to victory and Harry Thacker stars in nine-try classic

Benetton fly half Tomoz Albornoz missed four crucial conversions, and a disallowed try from former Bristol Bears scrum half Andy Uren would have secured the win for the visitors at Ashton Gate. Bristol hooker Harry Thacker was named Player of the Match, as he continues his push for a long awaited call up to the England squad.

The must-win mentality of both sides was witnessed from the get go, as both Bristol and Benetton threw caution to the wind in this entertaining clash at Ashton Gate. It took eight minutes for Bristol to break the deadlock, with hooker Harry Thacker starting the move with an exquisite line-out overthrow, to find wing Noah Heward on the charge. Powerful bursts from Kalaveti Ravouvou and Max Lahiff further dented Benetton's defense, before centre Jimmy Williams was played in under the posts from 5m out.

Benetton rallied back with an immediate fire, and the Ashton Gate faithful soon realised they had a game on their hands. There were excellent hands from Benetton as they shipped the ball across the width of the pitch. A long miss pass to Rhyno Smith, coupled with a failed interception attempt from Bristol wing Jack Bates, allowed the man with arguably the best name in rugby to collect the ball and scored out wide. Tomoz Albornoz missed the following conversion as he struck the uprights.

The end-to-end action continued as Bristol returned fire for a 17th minute score. Thacker broke the Benetton line, and offloaded the ball to his supporting scrum half, yet the ball was too low to the deck. Kieran Marmion improvised on the fly with some neat football skills, with a left foot volley over Benetton's in-goal area. The halfback dived on the ball for the try, to delight the Ashton Gate faithful in this dual-purpose football stadium. More sharp work from the feet as Byrne once again converted off the tee.

Benetton would add two further tries before half-time, with back row Manuel Zuliani and wing Matt Gallagher taking the Italians into the break with a four point lead. Azzurri centres Tommasso Menoncello and Juan Ignacio Brex interlinked in the build up to Zuliani's try, before Benetton's blistering back-three all combined for Gallagher's score on the stroke of half-time.

There were plenty of boos ringing around Ashton Gate with two dubious looking passes, with cries for back-to-back forward passes sending the Bristol Bears faithful into a frenzy. Some sarcastic jeers followed as Albornoz missed the following conversion from the touchline, as the sides departed at the break.

Bristol fired out the blocks early in the second half, with the Bears over to re-take the lead after just four minutes. A rolling maul set a strong foundation on the front foot, before tight-head prop Max Lahiff peeled off the pack to drive over the line. Another conversion from Byrne extended the advantage.

Bristol hooker Harry Thacker would get his long awaited try, after a brilliant performance from the front row. Full plaudits were awarded to Bristol captain Fitz Harding, as he shrugged off two tacklers and extecuted a nice out the back off load to Thacker. The Bears had their tails up, as Marmion grabbed his brace six minutes later. The scrum half was unleashed along the blindside touchline following a line-out maul. Byrne nailed the kick from the corner, for a flawless effort off the tee.

Benetton kept their heads up, despite the score-line racing away from them. Brex was tackled inches from the try-line, with replacement hooker Bautista Bernansconi muscling his way over on the 64th minute. A lenghty TMO review confirmed that the ball was in fact dotted down, despite protests from the home supporters.

Tommasso Menoncello would keep this momentum building, as the Italian centre scored a stunning solo try from the Bristol 10m, capped off with a sublime diving finish. With just 10 minutes remaining, Albornoz' missed conversion hindered Benetton's hopes of a dramatic comeback.

However, Benetton's fire did not die out, as Rhyno Smith capped off a stunning move along the back line for a 76th minute Treviso try. The supporters held their breath following another TMO review, as the referee's blast on the whistle confirmed a narrow escape for Bristol, thanks to an obstructive runner.

BRISTOL BEARS: 35

Tries: 5 (Williams 8', Marmion 17', 59', Lahiff 44', Thacker 53')

Conversions: 5 (Byrne 8', 17', 44', 53', 59')

Penalties: 0

Drop Goals: 0

Yellow Cards: 1 (Grondona 37')

Red Cards: 0

15. Benjamin Elizalde 14. Jack Bates 13. Kalaveti Ravouvou 12. James Williams 11. Noah Heward 10. Harry Byrne 9. Kieran Marmion 1. Yann Thomas 2. Harry Thacker 3. Max Lahiff 4. Joe Owen 5. Joe Batley 6. Santiago Grondona 7. Fitz Harding (C) 8. Villiame Mata

16. Gabriel Oghre 17. Ellis Genge 18. Jimmy Halliwell 19. Steele Barker 20. Steven Luatua 21. Harry Randall 22. Benhard Janse van Rensburg 23. Rich Lane

Tries: 6 (Smith 13', 76', Zuliani 23', Gallagher 40', Bernasconi 64', Menoncello 69')

Conversions: 2 (Albornoz 23', 64')

Penalties: 0

Drop Goals: 0

Yellow Cards: 0

Red Cards: 0

15. Rhyno Smith 14. Matt Gallagher 13. Tommaso Menoncello 12. Ignacio Brex 11. Onisi Katave 10. Tomas Albornoz 9. Andy Uren 1 Thomas Gallo 2. Siua Maile 3. Giosue Zilocchi 4. Niccolo Cannone 5. Federico Ruzza 6. Michele Lamaro 8. Lorenzo Cannone 7. Manuel Zuliani

16. Bautista Bernasconi 17. Simone Ferrari 18. Enzo Avaca 19. Eli Snyman 20. Riccardo Favretto 21. Alessandro Izekor 22. Alessandro Garbisi 23. Leonardo Marin

Nailed on a 31st minute carry, and spilled the ball in contact. Worked well in his back three unit, as Benetton repeatedly pressured the back-field. Given plenty to sweep up as the Bristol gain-line was repeatedly broken in the first half, and made some important first up tackles as the last line of defence. Penalised for not releasing at the 75th minute, as Benetton attempted a last-ditch match winning line-out push.

14. Jack Bates 7
Miss-timed his intercept attempt, as Benetton sent a miss pass wide to Rhyno Smith. Bates was caught out, as the Benetton fullback crossed over for the try. Stepping and spinning through contact for a brilliant involvement at 49 minutes, Bates led the charge as Bristol got their tails up in the second half.

13. Kalaveti Ravouvou 7
Powerful carry in the lead up to James' Williams opening score, with his bulk battering the Benetton defence. Offering a neat option with both ball in hand and as an imposing dummy runner. Not his strongest defensive effort, with the centre stepped and shrugged off on a handful of carries.

Not given an inch when taking the ball on, with Ignacio Brex opitimising this on his 41st minute clattering. His best carry came along the left wing, as Bristol battled out of their own half at the 73rd minute. An eruption of noise as Ravouvou intercepted the ball upon the 80th minute to seure the win.

Scored Bristol's opening try of the afternoon, as he powered over from 5m out and flew in under the posts. Lovely chase and collect from Harry Byrne's subtle exit kick, as Bristol marched out of their half with the possession. Plenty of confidence to match his established Italian Test match opposite men, with many meetings in the midfield clattering Brex and Menoncello. Withdrawn as he was struggling with a hand injury, after a strong effort.

11. Noah Heward 7.5
Well swept up as Benetton sent some testing kicks to the Bristolian backfield. Great tackle on Katave, as the Benetton wing built a full head of steam with a 22nd minute down-field break. What looked like good coverage to deny Rhyno Smith a try at 28 minutes, turned out to be a punishable offence.

Heward palmed the ball down as the Benetton fullback stubbed through a kick along the touchline, with a subsequent TMO review handing the penalty to the visitors. A stunning break at 46 minutes, as he collected the re-start and beat three defenders with a surging run.

10. Harry Byrne 7
Strong early hiy as he sends Menoncello to the deck and winds the Italian midfielder. Strong early hits as the crash ball acrriers targeted his channel. Solid kicking off the tee, to keep Bristol's points tally ticking over. A lovely nudge to clear the danger from the Bristol half, with James Williams collecting the clear out. Constantly looking for the intercept to clear Bristol's lines

9. Kieran Marmion 8
Good early box kick to clear danger. Collected an exit on the fifth minute and returned fire with a direct return carry, in a nice personal battle with Onisi Katave. An awesome improvisation to nudge Thacker's poor offload into the Benetton back-field, and win the foot race to dot down for Bristol's second try. Heads up play to spot the space along the blindside touchline, as Bristol sent him in for a try after a rolling maul trundled the ball into the red zone.

1 Yann Thomas 5
Penalised for a scrum penalty after 12 minutes, as Benetton piled on the pressure deep in the Bristol half. Benetton got the upper hand at scrum-time in the first half, with Thomas struggling with Max Lahiff, to counter the Italian's set-pice.

2. Harry Thacker 9
Explosive carrying over the front foot. Nice overthrown line-out to his backs, to ignite Bristol's opening try of the match. Another brillaint line break in the lead up to Kieran Marmion's try, with his poor offload beneffited by Marmion's educated feet. More impressive breaks around the park, as the long-haired hooker had a strong afternoon at the Gate.

Tip offs galore as Thacker showed-off his handling skills. Got his well deserved try just before the hour, as he supported Fitz Harding's line-break for a simple score under the sticks. A strong ovation upon his 67th minute exit.

3. Max Lahiff 6
Solid involvement in the build up to Jimmy Williams' try, as he dented the Benetton defence with a powrful carry. As mentioned with Yann Thomas, Benetton had the better of Bristol for the first half scrum, with the Bears giving away an assortment of free kicks and penalties. Over for the first try of the second half, as Bristol hammered home a powerful rolling maul, with the tight-head splitting off to cross the whitewash.

4. Joe Owen 8
Strong chop tackles in close quarters, as Benetton piled on early attacking pressure. Missed a line-out on 17 mins, yet Bristol regathered possession in the lead up to Marmion's try. Doing very well in the air, with the black scrum cap donning lock impressive at the set-piece. Excellent handling skills to ship some neat offloads to the backs, as Benetton's defensive line set their scope on the towering lock.

5. Joe Batley N/A

Off after just seven minutes with an ankle injury.

6. Santiago Grondona 6.5
The Argentine had an impressive outing on the defensive foot, as the unrelenting waves of Benetton attack kept his shoulders warm with plenty of tackles. Quieter on the attacking side of the ball for the first 40 minutes, and was sent to the sin bin for making a tackle on the scrum half, before returning Bristol Bear Andy Uren got his hands on the ball. Over-eager to lay down a marker on the former Bears man, upon his frosty return to Ashton Gate.

7. Fitz Harding 8
Strong performance from the Bristol captain, with his hopes for the 2025 Six Nations only helped by a solid effort. The England hopeful was a workhorse over the breakdown, and made an abundance of tackles on the slick Benetton attackers, who tested the mettle of the Bristolian back row. Climbing high in the air to showcase his skills as a line-out option. All the plaudits for Harry Thacker's try go to Fitz Harding, who fended two Benetton tacklers and offloaded 'out-the-back' to his supporting teammate.

Off 47' for Luatua. A quiter first half from the back row, as Bristol struggled to unleash their line-breaking eight-man on the front foot.

On for Harry Thacker at 67 minutes. Hot stepping around defenders with some solid involvements in the latter stages of the game.

A warm ovation for both Ellis Genge and Steven Luatua, as they exploded off the bench. Introduced to up the attacking intensity, with both his 'Baby Rhino' trademarked power and depth touches asking questions of the visitors.

On for Max Lahiff at the hour mark, yet not a great deal to report for the replacement tight-head. He worked well around the park, yet the high stakes overshadowed any individual involvements.

On after seven minutes for Joe Batley. Struggled to compete in the air, with the line-out lost in the lead up to Andy Uren's try, which luckily for Barker was subsequently disallowed. Turned his favours around with an unrelenting work rate, as he left it all on the line against the Benetton carriers.

20. Steven Luatua 7

Lifted the tempo in replacing Villiame Mata, as the number eight had a quiet game. Getting involved on the front foot, as a hard-working carrying option against the fatiguing Benetton pack. Nice carries, and the back row impressed with some solid footwork as well.

On at 65 minutes for Jimmy Williams, as an injury forced Bristol to shuffle up their back-line. Not an eye catching involvement from the scrum half, who will be hoping to return to the England squad for the 2025 Six Nations.

On for Harry Bryne just before the hour, yet did not light up Ashton Gate in his usual style. Worked well with the re-kindled back line to hold out for the win.

On for Jack Bates at 59 minutes, yet like van Rensburg, he did not have a seismic involvement upon the match. Worked well with the reshuffled back line for the win.