Bristol Bears produced a spectacular second-half comeback to defeat Newcastle Falcons (Red Bulls) 36-27 in a high-paced Premiership Rugby 2025 encounter, moving them up the table and extending Newcastle’s winless streak to 19 games.

The hosts showcased their attacking depth and squad rotation, with Louis Rees-Zammit, Matias Moroni, Kalaveti Ravouvou, Noah Heward, and Gabriel Oghre all crossing the line, while Rees-Zammit finished with a brace. Moroni, who had signed a permanent deal with the Bears just 11 days earlier, made an immediate impact by scoring one of the six tries for the side.

Match Highlights

• Bristol Bears 36 – Tries: Rees-Zammit 2, Moroni, Heward, Ravouvou, Oghre | Cons: Jordan 2, Williams
• Newcastle Falcons 27 – Tries: McCallum, Spencer 2, Leatherbarrow | Cons/Pens: Connon 2, Pen: Connon

Newcastle led for most of the first half, with early tries from Murray McCallum and Oli Spencer putting the Red Bulls 10-0 ahead. Newcastle extended their advantage to 17-12 by halftime thanks to Ollie Leatherbarrow’s score under the posts, showcasing the Falcons’ tenacity and attacking flair.

Bristol responded immediately in the second half, turning the game around with a rapid-fire double from Rees-Zammit and Moroni that shifted momentum. Fresh legs from the replacements, including Oghre, Heward, and rampaging forward Ellis Genge, helped the Bears dominate the final 10 minutes, scoring three more tries in quick succession.

Tactical Analysis

Bristol’s victory stemmed from:

• Second-half fitness and impact of substitutes – Fresh players exploited gaps in Newcastle’s defense.
• High-tempo attacking game – Rees-Zammit’s speed and Moroni’s agility created multiple try-scoring opportunities.
• Set-piece dominance – Driving mauls and organized forward play, including Oghre’s maul try, ensured Bristol kept pressure on Newcastle.

Newcastle’s defensive effort was impressive, but Bristol’s superior finishing and tactical adjustments in the second half proved decisive. Despite being reduced to 13 players due to Batley’s red card, the Bears’ quality shone through to secure the full five points.

Coaches’ Reactions

Bristol director of rugby Pat Lam highlighted his side’s resilience and adaptability:

“A hard-earned five points, well done to Newcastle—they really tested us. We made key changes and while we didn’t always get front-foot ball, our quality came through at the end. Managing the last 10 minutes with 13 and 14 men showed great composure.”

Newcastle head coach Alan Dickens praised his side’s effort despite the loss:

“Bristol had a purple patch in the second half, but we wrestled back momentum towards the end. When all facets of our game come together, we know we can perform strongly. Next week against Gloucester is another opportunity to put in our best performance.”

Line-Ups

Bristol Bears: Rees-Zammit; Heward, Moroni, Williams, Ravouvou; Jordan, Randall; Lahiff, Thacker, Chawatama; Taylor, Batley, Owen, Harding (c), Mata
Replacements: Oghre, Genge, Halliwell, Rubiolo, Ivanishvili, Wolstenholme, Worsley, Lane
Sin bin: Kalaveti Ravouvou (77)
Red card: Batley (66)

Newcastle Falcons: Grayson; Spencer, Hearle, Arnold, Obatoyinbo; Connon, Benitez Cruz; Brocklebank, McGuigan (c), McCallum; Usher, De Chaves, Gordon, Christie, Leatherbarrow
Replacements: Fletcher, Hancock, Palframan, Baker, Mafi, Elliott, Hutchison, Chamberlain

Referee: George Selwood