Bristol Bears ran in 8 tries in a 3-50 win over DMP Durham Sharks at the Darlington Arena on Saturday. The Bears opened the scoring after 7 minutes when winger Courtney Keight rounded the Sharks defence to score in the corner. The visitors enjoyed the lions share of possession in the opening half and they were helped by a yellow card for the hosts flanker Tiana Gordon for a tackle off the ball. The Bears made the most of their numerical advantage as Alisha Butchers burrowed over from close range minutes later. The visitors extended their lead on 27 minutes when scrum half Lucy Burgess profited from a clever support line to score under the posts, and they had their fourth try soon after from a brilliant individual try from Phoebe Murray. Elinor Snowsill converted 3 of their first half tries to make the score 0-26 at the break.

The visitors started the second half as they finished the first with a well taken second try from Phoebe Murray. They then enjoyed a purple patch, scoring 3 tries in just 5 minutes. First Butchers added her second, before further tries from Simi Pam and Kayleigh Powell took the Bears total to 50. The home side rallied however and enjoyed much more territory in the final 20. A Beth Blacklock penalty got the Sharks on the board on 55 minutes, before a yellow for Manon Johnes in the dying stages. Despite a series of 5m lineouts the hosts were unable to cross the whitewash and the contest finished 3-50.

The Sharks now face a weekend off for the Christmas break before another home game at the Arena on Saturday 2nd January against Sale Sharks.