Slimline Hughes has the Bears roaring in
NATHAN Hughes inspired Bristol to a record league win over Bath before a sell-out crowd at Ashton Gate.
On his first Premiership start for the club, Hughes scored a try and had a major hand in others as Bath conceded seven tries for a dismal opening to their league season.
Bristol boss, Pat Lam, said: “Nathan was a lot trimmer when he was younger so we’ve worked on getting him really fit and he’s lost four kilos.
“On his first appearance for us, he dropped a number of balls but there is no doubt he is a quality player and if we can turn him into a full 80 minute performer, he will be world class.”
Hughes caused havoc in the Bath ranks with his power to be the game’s stand-out player, although Harry Thacker and Mat Protheroe were others to make large impressions with their industry.
In contrast, it was a sorry night for Bath as they faded tamely under the hosts’ second half onslaught. After conceding two early tries, they had bravely rallied with Beno Obano and Zach Mercer leading their efforts and were certainly in contention until Bristol’s third try just before halftime turned the game away from them.
There were very few positives for them as none of their backs could match the star quality of Bristol’s Charles Piutau and Luke Morahan and the return of Anthony Watson, Jonathan Joseph and Joe Cokanasiga from World Cup duties cannot come quick enough.
They made a disastrous start when Mercer collected the kick-off and was injured as he lost possession to David Attwood in the first contact.
Hughes capitalised by driving forward and when the ball was recycled, Piutau rounded a stricken Mercer to send Morahan over.
Rhys Priestland’s penalty put Bath on the scoreboard before Hughes continued Bristol’s dream start with their second try after a superb pass from Thacker had sent Piutau through a huge gap.
Priestland kicked another penalty and converted a try from Mercer, who caught the hosts unaware by going blind from a driving line-out before crashing through Thacker’s tackle to score.
Bath led for the only time in the match but it wasn’t for long as their opponents turned down a kickable penalty in favour of a lineout drive. It proved a crucial call as the visitors’ defence was sucked in for Protheroe to give his side a 17-13 interval lead.
That advantage was extended when Hughes made another telling burst before his undetected forward pass sent Protheroe racing away to create the bonus point try for Piers O’Conor before Priestland kicked his third penalty.
After that score it was all downhill for Bath with replacement prop, Lewis Boyce, sin-binned for a high tackle and Bristol struck immediately with a close range try for John Afoa to celebrate his 36th birthday.
Boyce then returned but Max Clark hobbled off to leave the visitors with 14 men for the remainder and Bristol made it count with late tries from Ioan Lloyd and Monahan.