Bristol Bears vs Northampton Saints

Augustus heads off for a HIA and Lawes re-enters the game as we set the lineout. 

Penalty against Saints as they're pinged for a late tackle. Sheedy sends it to touch for a lineout on halfway. 

Hutchinson pushes up through the midfield off the scrum before James sends the ball over the top and into touch in the corner. Lineout Bears on their own five metre line. 

Bristol knock on though and James sends the ball high. Gillespie is in chase and though he doesn't get there, his pressure forces the knock on from Bears and Saints will have another scrum. 

Bristol go short at the lineout but Matavesi comes away from it. Ludlam charges up to halfway before Biggar chips over the top. The ball ends up in Bristol hands though and the home side play on.

Gillespie replaces Freeman as we restart.

Another penalty at the scrum for Saints and Biggar points to the posts with this one.

Free kick Saints at the lineout and Saints choose to scrum. 

Carey replaces Hill as we set the lineout. 

Fricker breaks through off the scrum and makes it up to Saints' 22 but Wilkins gets over the ball there and earns Saints the penalty. Biggar puts it in touch for a lineout in Bears' half.

James replaces Mitchell as we set the scrum. 

Scrappy off the back of the lineout and it's Saints who are deemed to knock on first. Scrum Bristol on halfway.

Penalty Bristol at the scrum as it comes down before the ball is in though and Sheedy puts it into touch for a lineout on halfway. 

Saints think they've scored through Ludlam as the skipper barges his way over the line after gather Ratuniyarawa's offload but the TMO intervenes and the try is chalked off. Scrum Bristol on their own 22 instead.

Knock on from Saints on the restart though and Bristol have the scrum. 

Changes for Saints as we restart; Iyogun and Wilkins enter the game, with Waller and Lawes making way.

No conversion from Biggar out wide but Sheedy gets us restarted.

Ribbans is up for the lineout and Hutchinson scrambles through into the 22. Saints keep coming down the short side.

Hutchinson replaces Dingwall as we set the lineout from Biggar's kick to touch. 

Mitchell sends the ball high from the base of the ruck and it comes down into Bristol hands. They whip left and right to push up to the halfway line but Matavesi gets over the ball and earns Saints the penalty. 

Biggar's conversion comes off the posts but Skosan is under the restart and Saints push forwards. 

Matavesi and Ratuniyarawa enter the game as we set the scrum, with Fish and Moon taking their leave.

Knock on from Bristol at the lineout and Saints will have the scrum in Bears' 22. 

Another huge shove at the scrum and Biggar puts the penalty into the corner.

Mitchell jinks through off the restart and pushes Saints out of their own 22 before box kicking high at the next phase. Bristol attempt a cross field kick but they knock on into touch and Saints choose to scrum. 

Advantage coming for Saints from the scrum again as they play on and eventually we come back for it. Biggar points to the posts.

Free kick Saints at the scrum and the referee marches Bristol back after they take the ball away with them. Saints choose the scrum option again inside Bears' 22 this time.

Saints maul forwards from the lineout and make good ground but get held up there and Bristol will have the scrum again.

Another huge shove at the scrum from Saints and it's another penalty there. Biggar sends the ball into touch for a lineout in Bears' 22.

Bristol knock the ball on off the lineout and Saints come away with it. Aerial tennis ensues after Saints come forwards but Furbank's kick heads straight out and Bristol have the scrum just inside Saints' half now.

After several resets the referee eventually awards Bears the penalty as the scrum collapses again and Sheedy sends it to touch. Lineout Bristol.

Saints hold Bears up at the restart and earn the put in at the scrum for their efforts.

Piutau breaks through from the restart and gets Bristol up to halfway before he's taken down. The home side whip the ball wide and push towards Saints' 22 now.

Just 40 mins left here at Ashton Gate - let's go Saints!

Fricker breaks through off the back of the lineout but is taken down short of the line. Goal line drop out for Saints but Biggar's kick head straight out and Bristol will have the five metre scrum with the clock in the red. 

Saints send the restart high and Bristol run it back at them, Saints defend hard but are penalised for hands on the floor at the breakdown. Sheedy sends it into the corner. 

Bristol steal the lineout but Saints turn the ball over again in the midfield. Biggar sends it high and it's scrappy but Sheedy eventually ground the ball in the deadball area. Tryline drop out for Bristol.

Uren sends the ball high off the restart but it heads straight out and Saints will have the lineout just outside Bears' 22. 

Saints turn the ball over again as Bristol push forwards from the lineout but are penalised at the next breakdown and Sheedy points to the posts with this one.

Saints push up hard before Biggar puts a grubber through. it bobbles into touch and Bristol take the lineout quickly. They push back up to the 22 line before Saints are pinged for not rolling away. Sheedy puts the ball into touch for a lineout just inside Saints' half. 

Saints push forwards off the lineout but Bristol strip the ball in a tackle and run at Saints. But the away side get over the ball and earn the penalty there. Biggar puts it back into the corner.

Penalty Saints at the lineout and Biggar puts this one into the corner. 

Bristol get over the ball as Saints get close though and Sheedy sends the resulting penalty to touch for a lineout just outside the Bears 22. 

Ludlam jumps on loose ball at the restart and Saints push up to Bristol's 22 quickly. Augustus and Ludlam break through to push up to the five metre line and still Saints push.

Bristol's maul comes to a halt again but they get the ball out and push from close range. Bears have a penalty advantage coming and we come back for it. Sheedy points to the posts. 

Saints look to come wide off the restart but are penalised there and Sheedy puts the ball into the corner for a Bristol lineout there.

Saints charge forwards off the lineout and Augustus gets play deep into Bears' 22. And with an advantage coming for Saints they try to go wide but when Freeman is pushed into touch short of the line we come back for it. Biggar points to the posts again.

Scrappy of the back of the lineout but with Bristol off side in the midfield, Saints have the penalty again. Biggar puts this one into touch for a lineout on Bears' 22. 

Big shove from Saints' scrum and they earn the penalty. Biggar sends it to touch for a lineout halfway. 

Free kick Bristol at the scrum and they choose to take it again.

Lawes gets up and taps the ball backwards. But the ball heads over the deadfall line and Bristol will have the five metre scrum. 

Bristol look to maul again but Saints hold firm this time. The home side are forced to push in the midfield and though Saints defend hard, they're pinged at the breakdown. Sheedy puts the resulting penalty into the corner. 

Biggar sends the ball high off the back of the lineout and Bristol get under it again. Saints defend well but Uren manages to get the box kick away, the bounce of the ball providing Bears with a 50/22 lineout in Saints' 22. 

Saints make good progress, pushing into Bristol's 22 but they lose the ball forwards there in contact and Speedy clears to touch. Lineout Saints back near halfway. 

Augustus push forwards after gathering the restart before Mitchell sends the ball high. Piutau is under it but Saints turn the ball over again. They push forwards before Furbank sends a grubber through. Bristol gather but Saints turn the ball over again. 

Bristol gather the restart but Saints turn the ball over at the breakdown again and earn a penalty just after. Biggar points to the posts. 

Saints hold Bristol on the halfway line before the home side break down the left. Saints bring them down in the 22 but are pinged at the breakdown and Sheedy puts it into the corner. 

Bristol inch forwards from the lineout, working towards Saints' 22 but the away defence is strong and they earn the turn over at the breakdown. Saints push forwards before Mitchell sends it high. Piutau is under it and Bristol play on. 

Mitchell sends the ball into touch from the kick-off, finding touch for a Bristol lineout.