Latest news with #Ibitoye
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Bristol thrash Quins to book semi-final derby spot
Gallagher Premiership Bristol (26) 52 Tries: Kloska, Batley, Ravouvou, Mata, Ibitoye (2), Grondona, Janse van Rensburg Cons: MacGinty (6) Harlequins (12) 26 Tries: Murley (2), Dombrandt, Hammond Cons: Benson (3) Advertisement Bristol secured their Premiership semi-final at Bath in style with a superb attacking display in a 12-try epic at Ashton Gate. The Bears needed a win to be sure of a top-four spot and made the perfect start, registering a bonus point inside 24 minutes with close-range scores from George Kloska and Joe Batley and explosive Kalaveti Ravouvou and Viliame Mata tries. Cadan Murley's fine first-half double reduced the gap to a 14-point lead at the break. Gabriel Ibitoye extended the advantage to 31-12 soon after the restart but memories of the 2021 'Bristanbul' comeback by Quins at Ashton Gate loomed large as the visitors notched quickfire tries from Alex Dombrandt and George Hammond to go within five points. Advertisement However, scores from Santiago Grondona and Ibitoye settled the nerves before Benhard Janse van Rensburg brought up the half-century as the Bears booked a trip to their West Country neighbours on Friday night. Blistering start sets the tone for Bears Noah Heward made his first Bears start at full back since January after injury while Pat Lam handed Argentina international lock Pedro Rubiolo his Bears debut. With a semi-final spot out of reach Danny Wilson made three changes to the Quins starting XV as Jamie Benson made his first Premiership start at fly-half while Luke Northmore returned at centre and Nick David started at full back. Advertisement It took just 93 seconds for the hosts to break the deadlock as quick hands from MacGinty sent Ibitoye flying down the left wing and despite some good defence from Quins near their own line, prop George Kloska plunged over near the posts, with MacGinty slotting the extras. The second try arrived inside five mins as lock Joe Batley stretched to touch down over the line after another powerful drive, with MacGinty again converting. A penalty kick into the corner and a deep lineout paved the way for Luke Northmore to cross for Quins after an angled run on 10 minutes but the try was chalked-off for a forward pass from Dombrandt, who was then held-up over the line by Fitz Harding after a bulldozing run straight from the restart. Quins got back in it on 17 minutes when Murley raced onto a clever chip forward from Benson on the 22 to catch a high bouncing ball and plunge over, allowing Benson to add two points from infront of the posts. Advertisement Bristol extended their lead just three minutes later as Harry Randall found space on the right and Fijian flyer Ravouvou raced down the whitewash to acrobatically dive over in the corner for his 11th try of the campaign, though the conversion sailed wide. The onslaught continued and Mata produced a brilliant angled run and bulldozed his way under the posts through some rather static defence for Bristol's fourth try and a bonus point on 24 minutes, with MacGinty notching the conversion to make it 26-7. Bears' 16th try bonus point of the season is a new Premiership record. Batley was denied a second try by another forward pass to the left wing before MacGinty's pass was intercepted by Hammond in midfield and a long ball out wide paved the way for Murley to step inside his man and scorch down the left from inside his own half for his 11th try of the season just after the half-hour, though Benson missed the conversion attempt from out wide. Gabriel Ibitoye beats Jamie Benson to the line and finished as joint top try-scorer with Ollie Hassell-Collins with 13 [Getty Images] Bears battle back after nervy start Six minutes after the turnaround Quins replacement Sean Kerr almost broke away but Bears won back possession and Ravouvou's break down the left and some fine passing across the width of the field paved the way for Ibitoye to stroll into the right corner for his 12th try of the campaign, a new club record, against his former club, though the conversion was unsuccessful. Advertisement Bears nerved started jangling, as memories of the 28-point collapse in the 2021 semi-final against Quins returned as the visitors notched two converted tries in three minutes. Dombrandt reduced the arrears after a slick dummy through the line from Benson created space and Quins added another from close range on 52 minutes after a break from Northmore, with Hammond diving through a crowd to touch down on the line, with Benson's third conversion making it a five-point game. The hosts could breathe again on 58 minutes when Grondona plunged over to end a series of goalline probes, with MacGinty adding the two points, and some lightning hands and feet from MacGinty saw the ball spread to Ibitoye on the left to jink his way to the line for try number 13, the joint most in the league this season, with MacGinty adding the extras from the whitewash to restore the 19-point lead and bring up 1,000 in his Premiership career for Bears and Sale. As Quins wilted in the Bristol sunshine Bears were denied a penalty try for Benson's slap into touch behind the posts, however Janse van Rensburg barged through a gap to dot down behind the posts to bring up the half-century, with MacGinty adding his sixth conversion. Advertisement The hosts saw out the final 10 minutes without further alarm to register their biggest ever win over Harlequins, secure their return to the semi-finals for the first time in four years and book a mouthwatering clash at the Rec on Friday night. 'We know how to beat Bath' Pat Lam, Bristol director of rugby, told BBC Radio Bristol: "I am very proud of this group, this is probably one of the highlights of my time at Bristol Bears. "We know there's areas we can improve on. To be missing stardust players for several months at a time, the squad has really gelled together to get us through the tough times." Advertisement [On the derby date at the Rec on Friday night] "We're excited. Bath have only lost three games this year, and we've beaten them twice. "We've played them 14 times since we've been back in the Premiership, won all of them at Ashton Gate, once at the Principality and we've won more at the Rec than we've lost. "We know how to beat Bath. The challenge is it's now a semi-final. I have to get the game plan right." Quins head coach Danny Wilson said: "We started the game terribly today and it put us in a bit of a hole. "We were back in it at 31-26, but then Bristol capitalised on their opportunities. Advertisement "They are a very, very good side if you let them let rip. It has been a painful end to the season." Bristol: Heward, Ravouvou, Janse van Rensburg, Williams, Ibitoye; MacGinty, Randall; Thomas, Oghre, Kloska, Rubiolo, Batley, Grondona, Harding, Mata. Replacements: Thacker, Woolmore, Lahiff, Owen, Luatua, Marmion, Byrne, Bates. Harlequins: David; Isgro, Beard, Northmore, Murley; Benson, Porter; Baxter, Walker, Lamositele, J Green, Hammond, Kenningham, Evans, Dombrandt. Replacements: Jibulu, Els, Streeter, Launchbury, Lawday, Murray, Kerr, Halfpenny. Referee: Luke Pearce
BBC News
31-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Bristol thrash Quins to book semi-final derby spot
Gallagher PremiershipBristol (26) 52Tries: Kloska, Batley, Ravouvou, Mata, Ibitoye (2), Grondona, Janse van Rensburg Cons: MacGinty (6)Harlequins (12) 26Tries: Murley (2), Dombrandt, Hammond Cons: Benson (3) Bristol secured their Premiership semi-final place in style with a superb attacking display in a 12-try epic at Ashton Bears needed a win to be sure of a top-four spot and made the perfect start, registering a bonus point inside 24 minutes with close-range scores from George Kloska and Joe Batley and explosive Kalaveti Ravouvou and Viliame Mata Murley's fine first-half double reduced the gap to a 14-point lead at the Gabriel Ibitoye extended the advantage to 31-12 soon after the restart and memories of the 2021 'Bristanbul' comeback by Quins at Ashton Gate loomed large as the visitors notched quickfire tries from Alex Dombrandt and George Hammond to go within five scores from Santiago Grondona and Ibitoye settled the nerves before Benhard Janse van Rensburg brought up the half-century as the Bears booked a trip to table-topping Bath in the first semi-final on Friday to follow. Bristol: Heward, Ravouvou, Janse van Rensburg, Williams, Ibitoye; MacGinty, Randall; Thomas, Oghre, Kloska, Rubiolo, Batley, Grondona, Harding, Thacker, Woolmore, Lahiff, Owen, Luatua, Marmion, Byrne, David; Isgro, Beard, Northmore, Murley; Benson, Porter; Baxter, Walker, Lamositele, J Green, Hammond, Kenningham, Evans, Jibulu, Els, Streeter, Launchbury, Lawday, Murray, Kerr, Luke Pearce
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Steward steers Leicester to victory at Bristol to boost title push
Freddie Steward secures the try bonus point for Leicester. Photograph: Steven Paston/PA In theory it was a day for Bristol to consolidate second place and reaffirm their Premiership title credentials. The sun shone, the pitch was hard and fast and the free-scoring Bears welcomed back the inspirational wing, Gabriel Ibitoye, after a four-month injury absence. In reality, however, what materialised was a largely dominant victory for Leicester that saw them overhaul Bristol and take second place, on points difference, with four matches remaining. Michael Cheika's one-year assignment as Tigers coach will soon be over, but the possibility of him departing a Premiership champion cannot be discounted. Advertisement Related: Gloucester fans ruffle feathers in boisterous start for experiment The memory of last December's return fixture had loomed over the buildup, when Pat Lam's side stuck 54 points on their opponents at Welford Road. 'We realise there will be a bit of vengeance coming back at us,' Lam told TNT Sports before kick-off. He was right. The Tigers were hurt by that festive humiliation, no doubt, but might also have reminded themselves the Bears were thrashed 38-0 at home by Sale a week later, the night that Ibitoye was injured. Here, too, Bristol seamlessly switched from the sublime to ridiculous. Adam Radwan's try had put the visitors in front when Bristol's Kalaveti Ravouvou made a burst into their 22 on 11 minutes. He looked isolated after being dragged down, but the covering Tigers defenders could not have imagined the vision and accuracy of a frankly ludicrous one-handed offload promptly arrowed by Ravouvou to Ibitoye, who lurked near the touchline. The wing made the finish look easy. Soon came the ridiculous. With Bristol's attack apparently starting to tick, Ibitoye's overly ambitious pass drifted into the grateful hands of an onrushing Ollie Hassell-Collins, near halfway, and the wing was gifted a clear run to the line. Jack van Poortvliet soon scored a third try for Leicester and when Handré Pollard added a penalty to his two conversions, it added up to a 22-5 half-time lead for Cheika's side. Not the script Lam had in mind. The only downside for Leicester was losing Joe Heyes to the sin-bin for an accidental high shot on Fitz Harding. Advertisement Still, this being Bristol, it felt unlikely that the Tigers would serenely close out the win. Ravouvou was duly sent scorching in under the posts six minutes after the break and when AJ MacGinty converted, the Bears were back to within 10. Bristol's attacking potency remained a worry but when the Bears fluffed a defensive lineout on 63 minutes, the full-back Freddie Steward applied a classy finish, securing a try bonus point in the process. Game over? Not a bit of it. Harry Randall's sniping effort for Bristol again made it a 10-point game and their offloading excellence continually asked questions of a tiring Tigers rearguard. Randall would touch down again with six minutes left, after being hauled down near the posts by Leicester's replacement scrum-half Ben Youngs, but had knocked on after getting back to his feet. A converted try then would have reduced their arrears to three points with a couple of minutes to play. It wasn't to be and Cameron Henderson even smashed over for a fifth Leicester try, converted by Jamie Shillcock with the last kick. Considering Bristol's tricky looking run-in – Northampton and Sale away, Bath and Quins at home – if they don't improve on this showing their season could go south quickly. Fresh disappointment may loom for the Bears' faithful fans, while Cheika's men appear to be moving through the gears.
The Guardian
20-04-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Steward steers Leicester to victory at Bristol to boost title push
In theory it was a day for Bristol to consolidate second place and reaffirm their Premiership title credentials. The sun shone, the pitch was hard and fast and the free-scoring Bears welcomed back the inspirational wing, Gabriel Ibitoye, after a four-month injury absence. In reality, however, what materialised was a largely dominant victory for Leicester that saw them overhaul Bristol and take second place, on points difference, with four matches remaining. Michael Cheika's one-year assignment as Tigers coach will soon be over, but the possibility of him departing a Premiership champion cannot be discounted. The memory of last December's return fixture had loomed over the buildup, when Pat Lam's side stuck 54 points on their opponents at Welford Road. 'We realise there will be a bit of vengeance coming back at us,' Lam told TNT Sports before kick-off. He was right. The Tigers were hurt by that festive humiliation, no doubt, but might also have reminded themselves the Bears were thrashed 38-0 at home by Sale a week later, the night that Ibitoye was injured. Here, too, Bristol seamlessly switched from the sublime to ridiculous. Adam Radwan's try had put the visitors in front when Bristol's Kalaveti Ravouvou made a burst into their 22 on 11 minutes. He looked isolated after being dragged down, but the covering Tigers defenders could not have imagined the vision and accuracy of a frankly ludicrous one-handed offload promptly arrowed by Ravouvou to Ibitoye, who lurked near the touchline. The wing made the finish look easy. Soon came the ridiculous. With Bristol's attack apparenlty starting to tick, Ibitoye's overly ambitious pass drifted into the grateful hands of an onrushing Ollie Hassell-Collins, near halfway, and the wing was gifted a clear run to the line. Jack van Poortvliet soon scored a third try for Leicester and when Handré Pollard added a penalty to his two conversions, it added up to a 22-5 half-time lead for Cheika's side. Not the script Lam had in mind. The only downside for Leicester was losing Joe Heyes to the sin-bin for an accidental high shot on Fitz Harding. Still, this being Bristol, it felt unlikely that the Tigers would serenely close out the win. Ravouvou was duly sent scorching in under the posts six minutes after the break and when AJ MacGinty converted, the Bears were back to within 10. Bristol's attacking potency remained a worry but when the Bears fluffed a defensive lineout on 63 minutes, the full-back Freddie Steward applied a classy finish, securing a try bonus point in the process. Game over? Not a bit of it. Harry Randall's sniping effort for Bristol again made it a 10-point game and their offloading excellence continually asked questions of a tiring Tigers rearguard. Sign up to The Breakdown The latest rugby union news and analysis, plus all the week's action reviewed after newsletter promotion Randall would touch down again with six minutes left, after being hauled down near the posts by Leicester's replacement scrum-half Ben Youngs, but had knocked on after getting back to his feet. A converted try then would have reduced their arrears to three points with a couple of minutes to play. It wasn't to be and Cameron Henderson even smashed over for a fifth Leicester try, converted by Jamie Shillcock with the last kick. Considering Bristol's tricky looking run-in – Northampton and Sale away, Bath and Quins at home – if they don't improve on this showing their season could go south quickly. Fresh disappointment may loom for the Bears faithful fans, while Cheika's men appear to be moving through the gears.
Telegraph
20-04-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Watch: ‘That's outrageous' - was this the assist of Premiership season?
The people of Bristol have grown accustomed to the audacity of their Bears but even those who are regulars at Ashton Gate were left stunned by their side's latest offering. After 11 minutes of Bristol's meeting with Leicester, with the scores level at 5-5, the Bears went on the attack. The hosts' carries were met with blow after blow of ferocious Tigers defence, but Bristol's flying Fijian, Kalaveti Ravouvou, managed to delve even deeper into the box of tricks. THAT IS INSANE! Gabriel Ibitoye scores on his return to action but how about that ridiculous offload from Kalaveti Ravouvou 🤯 #GallagherPrem | #BRIvLEI — Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) April 20, 2025 Fifteen metres in from touch, Ravouvou was caught behind the gainline by England full-back Freddie Steward with Bristol looking a little isolated. The centre's immediate support had overran him and Leicester sniffed a turnover. Ravouvou had other ideas. He had spotted wing Gabriel Ibitoye, playing his first Bristol match since the end of December, lurking on the touchline. The fact that Ravouvou was facing infield made no difference, as the Fijian centre flung a blind offload round his back almost perfectly into the path of Ibitoye. With two knees and one hand on the ground, the ball flew like a bullet, in one of the most astonishing offloads seen in many a Premiership season. Ibitoye scooted home to score untouched and, having touched the ball down, even Bristol's most daring player could not believe what he had just seen, with his eyes wide and his hands on his head as he looked back to his Fijian team-mate, 15 metres back. Still got it! 🫡 @BenKay5 re-creates that outrageous Ravouvou assist. Marks out of ten for this one? — Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) April 20, 2025 'That offload... that's outrageous,' said Sam Warburton, former Wales and Lions captain, on TNT. 'Out the back. The accuracy to do that. So high risk. Oh my gosh, he is not even looking.' 'It is so silly,' added Ugo Monye, Warburton's fellow pundit. 'Ibitoye has got his hands on his head!' England World Cup winner Ben Kay even recreated the offload at half-time and one thing is for sure: no Bristol season-ticket holder could possibly complain about value for money at Ashton Gate.
