Bristol Bears secured a convincing 61-49 victory over the Bulls in the Champions Cup at Loftus Versfeld, remaining unbeaten in the tournament. Winger Noah Heward starred with a hat-trick of tries as the English side outscored their hosts nine tries to seven. The match showcased Bristol's early dominance despite a resilient response from the Bulls.
The Bristol Bears delivered a commanding performance against the Bulls on January 10, 2026, at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria, ending with a 61-49 win that kept their Champions Cup record spotless. The game kicked off with Bristol asserting control early on, as prop Max Lahiff scored the opening try, followed swiftly by winger Noah Heward's intercept try to build an initial lead.
The Bulls fought back through tries from Jeandre Rudolph and Stravino Jacobs, but Bristol's attack remained relentless. Kalaveti Ravouvou, Heward again, and Kieran Marmion added to the scoreboard, with the January heat doing little to hinder the visitors' pace. By halftime, Heward had completed his hat-trick, including a response to the Bulls' penalty try, leaving Bristol ahead 47-28.
In the second half, the Bulls showed fight with David Kriel finishing a powerful run. However, Bristol quickly countered, with Pedro Rubiolo and Ravouvou pushing their tally beyond 50 points. Late efforts from Sebastien de Klerk and Willie le Roux offered the Bulls a chance at a losing bonus point, but it proved insufficient.
This result leaves the Bulls without a win in the competition so far, highlighting Bristol's superior execution in exploiting spaces on the field.
