Bears Beyond The Gate

Day late due to logistics so apologies. Running order:

00.00-07.30: Intro and general Premier Sports rant

07:30-12.12: Flag stories

12:12-27:45: General review of the game

27:45-35.00: Player performances

35:00-36:35: Poem

36:35-57:45 - Chiefs preview including selection and predictions

57:45-END - Shout Outs

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In this week's episode we review yet another defeat at the StoneX but discuss whether it was quite as bad as the 30-7 score suggested.

Overall, we weren't great but there were some positive 'moments' and it was good to see new players stand up and be counted.

Ultimately though, our ill discipline and lack of red zone efficiency let us down. The wait goes on (sigh)!

However, Pete did manage to grab a word with Jimmy, Bats, Gabs, Harry Wells and the Mighty Bosh straight after the final whistle to get their...

Recorded as a two way chat this short-ish episode serves as a preview for the visit to the Stone X, where (in)famously a Bristol Senior team has never won although the Cubs did recently.

Is this the year? Given our impressive start to the season, why not? Duncan thinks so but inevitably Pete employs the use of some 'caveats' and 'alludes' to the weight of various statistics that suggest otherwise.

But hey? We've got to beat them sometime. Give us your thoughts via the usual channels.

Enjoy!

Let us know...

In this week's episode Pete, Lee and Miles crack open a cheeky beer at the Bristol Beer Factory Taproom and raise their glasses to the excellent win against Northampton Saints on Family Day.

It was a game of two halves, each one with its own compelling narrative, but yet another professional and disciplined performance from the pack created opportunities for the backs to shine.

LRZ got another brace, Rands executed a perfect dummy and snipe, and BV got knocked out by launching him 3ft onto a Saints knee just short of the speed of sound.<...

In the first review of the new Prem season we discuss Bristol's first bonus point win in Manchester THIS CENTURY. 

There had been a fair amount of trepidation in the run up to the game but in the end it was a professional dismantling of a side that has often outmuscled us.

We talk through the key points of the game and discuss player performances including our regular homage to Sir Fitz of Hardingshire. He's a legend.

Finally we look forward to what will no doubt be humdinger at the Gate on Saturday w...

Pete, Miles and a special 'pod royalty' guest sit down with a cheeky beer at the Bristol Beer Factory Taproom and discuss the season ahead more generally and the upcoming campaign opener at Sale in particular. It is episode 231 by the way, despite what you heard otherwise!

The lads are back for another season.

They whip through news and updates from the off season, briefly review the first Prem Cup game and then give their thoughts, hopes and opinions on the season ahead.

Is this the year?

Join Pete, Lee and Miles for cheeky beer and a bit of Bristol rugby banter...

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In this last episode of yet another eventful but ultimately unsuccessful season we unashamedly put the stopwatch away and ramble on until we run out of gas.

We chart our performances through the season and reminisce over the ups, the downs and the in betweens. It's actually quite a cathartic experience and leads us into a more wide ranging discussion about what coming 6th actually means both in terms of this season in particular and where we are as a club more generally.

Squad size, salary spend, injuries, Academy progression, The Big Day Out and...

We look back on the excellent victory vs TFDTR on Friday night a the Gate which was a fitting way to say good bye to the leavers as well as purge some of the Franklin’s Garden horror from the previous round.

We admire the endeavour to bagel Bath in the second half and actually come back to win from 14 points behind - despite one or two heart-in-mouth moments - and revel in some excellent individual performances…

It's a sombre pod and many things have already been said about Friday's chastening and record-breaking defeat against Saints across various platforms. There are lots of interrelated reasons why teams lose matches both contextual and in the heat of battle, but ultimately shipping that many points to a rival is almost impossible to comprehend let alone accept.

How do you analyse a game like that? We do our best to try and put in into perspective and discuss some of the issues that it raises. Hopefully it is fair and balanced although we appreciate that everyone has...

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In this week's episode, Pete, Lee and Miles discuss Bristol's dominant victory away at Newcastle.

It was another welcome five points but it came at a cost with more injuries to contend with.

On the postive side we have two weeks to recover and prepare for the vist of Saracens which will be the 'must wins' of must wins. Can we get that irritiating North London monkey off our back or will the Death Eaters suck the life out of us yet again.

That said, at least it's not taking place on November 5...

Let us know what you think!

Let us know what you think!

In this special preview episode Pete is joined by Rob from the Rosbifs Rugby pod.

He gives us the lowdown on what to expect from Toulouse on Saturday. It's not particularly optimisitc but there are a few crumbs of comfort and who knows, stranger things have happened?

Equally, or maybe even more importantly, the second half of the chat is all about what to do when you get out there this weekend including going to watch Colomiers vs Dax on Friday night as well as following his recommendations for places to eat, drink...

In a slight diversion from the norm Pete, Lee and Miles record live from The Philarmonic on St Mary's Street, Cardiff, both before and straight after the game.

What a difference a few hours makes!

You can only say what you think and the Thatchers fuelled pre-match expectation and optimism is countered by the harsh reality of the post-match result. If that doesn't remind anyone of the fickle nature of being a fan then we don't know what does!

On further reflection we may think differently or we may double down on our...

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We're back from our Six Nations hiatus with a round up of news from in and around the club as well turning our attention to the relatively happy hunting gound that is Welford Road as we re-start our quest to reach the Prem summit on Sunday.

Running order:

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The main event is the Jake Heenan interview where we chat to him about his rugby career which of course included seven years and over 100 appearances for Bristol Bears. We also discuss his relationship with Pat from his time as a youngster in the Auckland Blues Academy through to the title winning Connacht side of 2016 and finally his successful stint in Bristol. He provides great insight into the ups and downs of a pro rugby player but also demands recognition for the selfless way that he gave up his contract here in order to free up cap space for...

Let us know what you think!

Let us know what you think!

Let us know what you think!

The band is back together again as the boys chat over the gritty, but not particularly pretty new year win over Sale. 

It was a chilly night at the Gate and the fortress was certainly tested but thankfully the drawbridge was raised in the 72nd minute when Kela Ravouvou scored the deciding try.

Lying fourth at the mid point of the Prem season is probably better than we could  have hoped for but we now seemed to have settled into a nice rhytmn with a level of physicality that is delivering results.

Next up...

It's a rough and ready one-take Zoom episode on account of one pod member sweating profusely half way round the world, and with no music intro, but the lads talk over the 'stuttery' win against Newcastle Red Bulls and briefly reminisce on the glory of Big Game 17 in London.

They also discuss what this means for the visit of Sale next Friday and briefly look forward to the final European group games...

They finish with a bit of AOB including a plug for both the 'Fan to 5K' initiative and the Bristol Bears Live Community...

Just like the BBC, the pod is here to inform, educate and entertain so we were delighted to chat with Rob Graham from the Rosbifs Rugby pod about all things Pau.

He gives us an insight into this less fashionble club from the foot of the Pyrenees and predicts how they might shape up at Ashton Gate on Sunday.

We also hear from Mark and Cameron from the Bears Supporters Advisory Committee who give us an update on their successes so far (getting rid of air guitar and pre match smoke for starters) and outlines...

In this episode we review the game against Scarlets. It looked like we were cruising at 12-0 up with more points to come but the home side had other ideas and put in a proper shift to take us to the wire.

We discuss the reasons why this might have happened as well as hear the thoughts of some listeners. 

Equally as importantly the game marked the first BBTG road trip of the season so we also review activities that took place off the pitch and as well as on it. Suffice to say we t...

SORRY - for some unspecified reason the sound quality isn't as crisp us usual but there isn't much I can do about it 😭. 

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The lads jump on Zoom to speculate on the team for Saints this coming Saturday now that the Autumn International break is over. 

Which returning players will feature?

Have we succesfullly reduced our Guinness world record breaking injury list to more manageable levels?

Is the officiating team for the weekend more akin to watching a mash up of Last of the Summer Wine and Monarch of the Glen?

And will we win?

All this and not a lot more as we nearly come in under half an hour for t...

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It was a derby day to remember and although it didn't go our way for us, the effort was there. 

Pete, Lee and Miles ‘deep dive’ into the heated clash with them down the road, where the Bears battled hard, created big moments, but ultimately found that Bath were just that little bit better on the day.

🔥 Key Talking Points:

From the off, the Bears looked fired up: a charge-down leading to a try inside a minute set the tone. That fast start put Bath on notice...

This week we go over Friday night’s 7-try, 49-point dismantling of Gloucester under the lights and in front of the baying crowd at Kingsholm. We regained the Rifles Cup with another warrior-like performance of grit and graft but also sprinkled some fantastic handling and offloading. Despite our injury woes if felt a bit like the Bears Way in its full glory.

Not only did the frenetic nature of the game help last minute loanee and former fan favourite Toby Fricker shrug off his stag do hangover, but it al...

Pete, Miles and Lee pick through the narrow win against the Chiefs as well as previewing the upcoming fixture against Gloucester with help from Ed Price from the Cherry Jam fan pod.

There is also the usual excellent contributions from listeners and a bonus section on Bennard Janse Van Rensburg's post match interivew with Clare Thomas.

Finally, we finsh off with a big, big Goat, an update on the work of the Supporters Advisory Committee and pay homage to the game's look-a-like cam effort.

Slight apologies for the length of the episode...