PRC: Bristol Bears v Exeter Chiefs

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Bears 15 Chiefs 22

Bristol Bears

15. Rich Lane (63 apps),
14. Jack Bates (60 apps),
13. Benjamin Elizalde (24 apps),
12. James Williams (66 apps),
11. Gabriel Ibitoye (63 apps),
10. Sam Worsley (32 apps),
9. Max Pepper (6 apps);
1. Louie Trevett (7 apps),
2. Harry Thacker (150 apps),
3. Jimmy Halliwell (22 apps),
4. James Dun (58 apps),
5. Steele Barker (8 apps),
6. Joe Owen (53 apps),
7. George Taylor (8 apps),
8. Benjamin Grondona (33 apps).

Replacements
16. Tomas Gwilliam (11 apps),
17. Sam Grahamslaw (7 apps),
18. Sam Scott (1 app),
19. Ethan Surrey (5 apps),
20. John Edwards (2 apps),
21. Sam Wolstenholme (17 apps),
22. Joe Jenkins (30 apps),
23. Ollie Harris (2 apps).

Exeter Chiefs

15 Josh Hodge

14 Dan John

13 Harry Ascherl

12 Zack Wimbush

11 Campbell Ridl

10 Will Haydon-Wood

9 Tom Cairns

1 Will Goodrick-Clarke

2 Max Norey

3 Josh Iosefa-Scott

4 Rusi Tuima

5 Lewis Pearson (c)

6 Finn Worley Brady

7 Martin Moloney

8 Richard Capstick

Replacements:

16 Louie Gulley

17 Khwezi Mona

18 Jimmy Roots

19 Oscar Beckerleg

20 Joe Bailey

21 Charlie Chapman

22 Ben Coen

23 Paul Brown-Bampoe

Match Officials

Referee: Sara Cox

ARs: Matt Sharpe & Mike Woods

Weather Forecast as at 1200 Friday

Thundery showers and a gentle breeze from the south
Temperature 11 degrees will feel like 10 degrees
High Chance of Precipitation

TV Coverage

Not on TV

Good to see Zac Wimbush in the team, about time. Bears look marginally stronger to me but I'm hoping the wet will suit our forwards. Bears 13 Chiefs 22

I think we’ll have our work cut out to beat a near full strength Bears team. Good to see Wimbush back, should be a tight game, I do like Lewis Pearson as captain, a good quick rugby brain. Could easily be a draw but heart over head

Bears 21 - 24 Chiefs

Not sure Bears are near full strength but they will be difficult to beat at home, it is doable though, Bears 17 - 26 Chiefs.

Solid Bears team but going to lean towards optimism here:

Bristol 20 Chiefs 25

Great to see more of our academy lads involved this week, yes Bristol have gone a little stronger but feel this will be quite close. The weather looks a bit grim so not sure it will be that high scoring but we have a good pack so will get some ball to work off
Pleased to see Wimbush back let’s hope he goes well.
Briz 24 Chiefs 27

Bears 22 Chiefs 18

Bears 19: Chiefs 25

In Rob we trust.
By the way - cream on first. There's nothing to debate.

My stats don’t lie I’m shocking at predictions, here goes anyway
Bears 21 Chiefs 34

Bears 21 Chiefs 35

Interesting line ups for both teams.

Bristol have a fairly strong team, although not 1 player started the league game between the two sides a few weeks ago. I think 6 of the starters were on the bench. Bristol have two academy props who will definitely have their work cut out.

Just hoping we get something out of this game:
Bristol 28 - 21 Exeter

It may all hinge on the props. We’ve put out a couple of first team props, while Bears are fielding a couple of youngsters. If conditions turn out to be as forecast, that may well swing it, although the Bristol back three look dangerous if they can get decent ball. I’m going to ignore the fact that we seem to have been unable to beat Bristol over the last couple of seasons and go for my usual:
Chiefs 31; Bears 26

Bears 21 Chiefs 35

Bears 22 - 29 Chiefs

We will do well to get anything out of this in terms of a result, but it's great to see a few more of our youngsters getting a proper run out. The experience they will gain should be worth more long term. Bristol haven't gone anywhere close to full strength, but there's a lot of experience, and that's a dangerous back 3.

Bristol 35 Chiefs 24

Bears 28 - 24 Chiefs

More in hope than expectation Bristol 32 - 34 Exe but that could be a load of cobblers!

Likely to be lots of kicking, knock on's and errors with the conditions. I suspect Bristol will be too strong but perhaps unwisely Bristol 27 Chiefs 29

Bears 19 Chiefs 29

Bears 24 - Chiefs 28

Whilst nowhere near full strength that's still a stronger Briz team than I expected. I think we probably have the edge up front, with Briz on top in the backs. It should be an interesting game, it's a real shame it's not on TV, I'd love to see how some of the younger players got on. I think it could be tight. I'm going to go with a bit of positivity for a change. Briz 19 Chiefs 31

I hope I'm wrong but ...

Bears 22 Chiefs 19

Bears 19 - 22 Chiefs

Hope I’m wrong too! Bears 32 Chiefs 17

After 20 minutes We’ve scored 17. Well on the way to being wrong. 🥳



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:02:07:14:16:30 by Currychef.

32 minutes and we’re winning 22-0 . Have Bristol turned up?

22-7 at half time. Hold they keep this up for another 40

46-35 to chiefs at FT. Keeps us in the hunt for semi final (hopefully at home)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:02:07:15:31:04 by Chief10tank.

After Bath’s win at Sale I think we might have to beat Glaws and Bath to progress to the semi finals.