Bristol Bears player ratings from Ampthill win - 'At the heart of the best moments'

Bristol Bears beat Ampthill 40-15 at a torrential Ashton Gate on Sunday to make it two wins from the first three pool stage games of the 2024/25 Premiership Rugby Cup.

The Bears touched down through Harry Rowson, Will Capon, Yann Thomas, Oscar Lennon, Aidan Boshoff and were awarded a penalty try, with fly-half Sam Worlsey kicking four of his five shots at the posts. Ampthill grew into the contest and even won the second half with tries from winger Kerr Johnston and replacement tighthead prop James Johnston, along with a conversion and penalty from the boot of their captain Josh Barton.

READ MORE: Bristol Bears battle through Storm Bert to beat Ampthill in the Premiership Rugby Cup

South West rugby writer John Evely takes a closer look at the individual performances from the Bristol Bears players…

15. Benjamin Elizalde - 6

Starting from full-back having spent time in camp with the senior Argentina international side, the 20-year-old was on the end of a couple of big tackles as he was brave under the high ball. He showed flashes of his attacking capabilities as he ran from deep and was instrumental in setting up the first try, drawing in a couple of defenders to make space for Rowson.

14. Siva Naulago - 5

The Fijian winger had very few touches to show what he can do and on the one occasion he did make a bus through midfield his 50/50 offload was knocked on.

13. Harry Rowson - 6

The centre started the match brightly with a well-taken try in the corner, hugging the touchline to provide width in attack and then biding his time to get a pass from Elizalde

12. Joe Jenkins - 7

The centre was at the heart of Bristol’s brightest moments in attack, with the highlight being when he broke the line and then drew the last defender to play Lennon in for the pick of the tries.

11. Toby Fricker - 5

The winger had a couple of strong carries coming off his wing to look for work but didn’t have even a sniff of a try-scoring chance.

10. Sam Worsley - 6

The young fly-half dealt with the conditions well as he stripped back the attacking game to play it safer. He landed four of five conversion attempts, including a couple of wide efforts.

9. Oscar Lennon - 6

The scrum-half had a good outing as he scored a try, running a good tracking line off the shoulder of Jenkins, and created another with a high-quality wide arcing pass to Boshoff. He kicked well throughout but got caught on the ball a couple of times.

1. Yann Thomas - 6

Skippering the side for the third straight week, the Bears veteran got himself on the scoresheet with a close range drive right under the shadow of the crossbar. Solid in the scrum.

2. Will Capon - 6

The hooker did well throwing in tough conditions at the lineout and got himself over the line at the bottom of a pile of players following a well-worked catch and drive routine from a 5m lineout.

3. Lovejoy Chawatama - 5

The tighthead was strong in the scrum which was a good thing as there were plenty of them with the rain lashing down. That said, it was a fairly even contest at the setpiece.

4. Kenzie Jenkins - 5

The second-row had an industrious day against a big Amphill pack with the game all about the battle of the packs.

5. Paddy Pearce - 6

The lock had a fine day in the lineout despite the wind and rain at Ashton Gate.

6. Aaron Tull - 6

The flanker caught the eye with some powerful carries.

7. Ed Timpson - 6

The trialist, who was spotted ripping it up in the Shute Shield, was in the wars as he threw his body around. Lucky not to have a wide pass intercepted as the ball was just dropped.

8. Benjamin Grondona - 6

The Argentine started prominently with some powerful carries but disappeared as the game went on.

Replacements:

16. Tom Doughty - 5

17. Louie Trevett - 6

18. Jimmy Halliwell - 6

19. Ethan Surrey - 5

20. Tomas Gwilliam - 5

21. Sam Edwards - 5

22. Gethin O'Callaghan - 5

23. Aidan Boshoff - 6