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On the way to Bristol, they believe they live in the largest rugby city in the world. Now they have some tangible evidence to complement all that sports culture, all those community clubs and players.
In a much more modest stadium than planned in Aix-en-Provence, just a few kilometers from the original headquarters of the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille, Bristol claimed its first European trophy.
A brilliant attempt by Max Malins at the time broke the deadlock in the Challenge Cup final. Against the power of the Toulon locals, themselves regulars on the European honors board, Bristol has communicated its intention to establish itself as a powerhouse. rugby to take seriously.
“I said before the game, ‘We’re going to celebrate who we are and what that means,'” said Pat Lam, Bristol’s director of rugby. “The way we play the game, the way it is our culture, our love for each other. Let’s focus on joy. “
That joy was very much back on the Bears’ faces, after their humiliating loss to Wasps in the Premiership semifinal last weekend. Six penalties since Callum Sheedy’s start complemented Bristol’s two wonderful attempts. Toulon was well defeated. It feels strange to write it, thus contrasting the luck of the recent history of both clubs.
But there is already little surrealism in the surreal. As Bristol prepared, it emerged that this finale may not represent the end of this weirdest season after all.
The memory of that invigorating experience against the Wasps still pained him, only for the suggestion to arise that it might not be a terminal defeat. The Wasps have their own Covid outbreak to deal with, and if they can’t contain it, Bristol will face Exeter next weekend in the Premiership final.
Winning a first European title is one thing; becoming the first losing semi-finalist champion in the history of the sport would be again. They won’t know until Wednesday if they will be required, so even without a global lockdown there could be no party in Aix-en-Provence.
The authority of this victory is even more impressive given the missing personnel. Charles Piutau and Nathan Hughes are internationals that any team would covet and both were out with injury. Then Captain Steven Luatua retired so he could attend the birth of his daughter, which arrived just as Bristol was warming up.
The good vibes kicked in immediately. From kickoff, no less, Semi Radradra traded passes with Alapati Leiua to come out of 22 and send Harry Randall clear from just over the middle, 15 seconds later. A couple of minutes later, Sheedy hit the first of his penalties to give Bristol a 10-0 lead. Easy.
Toulon is a bigger team than ever, but they offered little. They owed their only attempt to a confusion in Bristol’s midfield, which allowed Bryce Heem to take advantage. That they managed to turn around six points, Louis Carbonel scoring three penalties in the second quarter, was almost inexplicable.
Bristol could have had two more attempts in that half alone. Joe Joyce appeared to have finished a beautiful, sweeping team score in the corner just before half an hour, but the TMO called the last forward pass. It was close. A few minutes earlier, Harry Thacker had fumbled while trying to land.
The mighty Ben Earl was in the limelight when Bristol battled that deficit, Sheedy winning the third-quarter fly-halves duel three penalties to one. Sheedy has had to fight for his place, despite his recent call-up to the Wales team, with Malins, as Earl, a visitor from Saracens, but the two were able to show off their respective products for that crucial attempt of the hour.
Sheedy’s beautiful kick to the corner pinned Toulon on his own 22. When the French canceled the back lineout, they cut the ball, only for Leiua to feed Malins. With unseemly ease, the full-back sped between Toulon’s centers to slide down the line and open Toulon as the game entered the fourth quarter. Two Sheedy’s penalties in the final five minutes gave the score a more appropriate glow.
