Sensational Saints deliver astonishing display as they demolish the Bears

The black, green and gold channelled their derby-day frustration in the perfect way as they put the Bears to the sword, scoring 14 tries in an astonishing 94-33 demolition.

It saw them beat their record for highest number of points scored in a PREM game as they surpassed the 90-0 win against Gloucester in May 2024.

Incredibly, Saints were 61-14 up by the break, earning them the PREM record for most points scored by any team in the first half of a match, and they were deservedly given a standing ovation by their fans as they headed off for a half-time sit-down.

They kept pushing on in the second period, continuing to pile more misery on a Bears team who have dished out their fair share of punishment on Saints teams at Ashton Gate during recent years.

In the end, Saints weren't quite able to reach a century of points, but they could be extremely proud of a performance that showed just why they are currently sitting top of the Gallagher PREM.

That was very much the intention earlier in the week as players and coaches signalled their desire to bounce back quickly from their 41-17 defeat at Leicester Tigers last Saturday.

They wasted little time in making amends against Bristol, flying out of the blocks, with George Furbank pulling the strings and the home side pulling Bristol apart.

Henry Pollock's long pass to the left found George Hendy and he cruised in for his side's opening score, with Fin Smith converting well.

But Bristol responded well and after Harry Randall did well to get the ball away under pressure, the away side pounced, with Harry Thacker scoring from close range.

Tom Jordan converted, but Saints hit back almost immediately, hunting Rich Lane down in the right corner before turning the ball over and sending it to Rory Hutchinson to score next to the left post.

Smith added the extras and it was the typically attacking and frantic start to the match that many had envisaged before it began.

It continued in that manner and after Hutchinson and Smith worked to open Bristol up, Tommy Freeman did well to kick a loose ball ahead for Callum Chick to pounce on for his side's third score inside the opening 12 minutes.

Smith struck the post with his conversion, leaving the score at 19-7, but Bristol soon cut the gap again, scoring far too easily as they took a quick free-kick and found little resistance on the right, allowing Louis Rees-Zammit to comfortably run in.

James Williams took over kicking duties and converted well from the touchline before Saints tried to issue another response, with Bristol scrambling well to stop a dangerous attack on the right.

It wasn't long before the black, green and gold bagged the bonus-point try though as after Kalaveti Ravovou was sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on, Archie McParland moved the ball to Alex Coles, who marked his return to action with a powerful finish.

Smith converted and Saints soon scored again, with Freeman doing brilliantly to race away on the right before his pass bounced into the path of McParland, who dotted it down.

Smith converted and it was 33-14 inside 25 minutes of what was already a breathless affair.

Saints just kept coming and after Hutchinson fired a lovely long pass out to Hendy, he turned on the turbos, flew past Lane and released Furbank for the try.

Smith converted and Lane was replaced due to what appeared to be an injury, bringing Noah Heward into the action for the Bears.

Saints were then forced to do some defending on their own line, but do it they did, earning a huge roar from the home fans as they secured a penalty and escaped.

And after Manny Iyogun won a breakdown penalty inside the Bristol half, there was another platform for the hosts, who piled the pressure on and sent Hutchinson over for the seventh black, green and gold try inside the opening 35 minutes.

Smith converted to make it 47-14 and Saints then conjured up a moment of forward magic as Chick and Coles combined superbly to set Josh Kemeny away to bring up a half-century of Saints points before half-time.

Smith converted and there was still more to come as Tom Litchfield capped a fantastic first half with a fine run, combining with Furbank to release Hendy for Saints' ninth score of an astonishing opening 40 minutes.

Bristol lock Joe Batley was sin-binned for a late tackle on Smith earlier in the move, meaning Hutchinson converted while the Saints fly-half received some treatment.

It capped an astonishing first half, after which the home fans stood as one to applaud their team for their gladiatorial savaging of their opponent.

Saints didn't relent early in the second half as they soon set on Bristol again, with McParland doing brilliantly to open the door for Freeman to release Pollock, who celebrated with a swallow dive.

Smith converted but Bristol hit back almost immediately as they engineered a tidy move on the right, resulting in Harry Randall scoring.

Williams again converted well from the touchline, but Bristol failed to gather the restart, meaning the ball bounced up inside the away 22 and McParland gathered it expertly with one hand before scoring.

Smith missed the conversion but there had already been three tries in six second-half minutes as the game continued to take the word eventful to a new level.

There was no sign of it letting up as Chick stormed forward and offloaded superbly for the onrushing Hendy to claim, cut inside and complete his hat-trick.

Smith converted to make it 80-21 and Saints had the chance to go to their bench, bringing on big guns such as Tom Pearson and Alex Mitchell.

Saints lost Ed Prowse to the sin bin as he had previously been warned and was punished for persistent offending by referee Luke Pearce.

Bristol kicked to the corner and bagged their bonus point as Luka Ivanishvili went over.

Williams missed the conversion, but he slotted one on 71 minutes after Heward raced through the middle to score.

Saints sent on Sam Graham for Freeman, giving the England man a rest, meaning Pollock moved to the wing.

Pollock was involved in a flashpoint before the end as he was targeted by Matias Moroni, who tripped the Saints star and then set on him.

Moroni had lost his temper and he soon lost his place on the pitch as he was shown a yellow card.

Saints quickly made their extra man count again as Pearson offloaded and Graham produced a determined finish.

Smith converted and there was even more before Hendy went off to round things off with his fourth try of a quite unbelievable evening at the jubilant Gardens.

Saints: 15 George Furbank (c) (Fraser Dingwall 65); 14 Tommy Freeman (Sam Graham 71), 13 Tom Litchfield, 12 Rory Hutchinson, 11 George Hendy; 10 Fin Smith, 9 Archie McParland (Alex Mitchell 54); 1 Emmanuel Iyogun (Danilo Fischetti 53), 2 Robbie Smith (Henry Walker 53), 3 Elliot Millar Mills (Luke Green 53); 4 Alex Coles, 5 Ed Prowse (JJ van der Mescht 67); 6 Josh Kemeny (Tom Pearson 53), 7 Henry Pollock, 8 Callum Chick.

Bristol Bears: 15 Rich Lane (Noah Heward 30); 14 Louis Rees-Zammit, 13 Benhard Janse van Rensburg (Matias Moroni 52), 12 James Williams, 11. Kalaveti Ravouvou; 10. Tom Jordan, 9. Harry Randall (Kieran Marmion 60); 1 Ellis Genge (Jake Woolmore 53), 2 Harry Thacker (Tomas Gwilliam 65), 3 George Kloska (Max Lahiff 36); 4 James Dun (George Taylor 62), 5. Joe Batley, 6 Joe Owen, 7 Fitz Harding (c), 8 Santiago Grondona (Luka Ivanishvili 52).

Referee: Luke Pearce