Bath clung on for a 20-19 win against their West Country rivals after Bristol almost pulled off a dramatic Premiership victory.
A 67th-minute Finn Russell penalty snatched the points for the hosts after tries by Rich Lane and Max Malins hauled the Bears back into the match, but Pat Lam’s side ultimately fell to a fourth straight defeat, with errant goal-kicking costing them again.
Bath had answered an early try by Magnus Bradbury with two tries in as many minutes by Ollie Lawrence and the scrum-half Ben Spencer.
Bristol had been out of the blocks quickest, as No 8 Bradbury rounded off a succession of pick-and-drives towards the home posts after five minutes, Callum Sheedy converting. Russell replied with a penalty and it was soon the visitors’ turn to be stretched side-to-side before Lawrence brushed aside Piers O’Conor and Gabriel Oghre to score Bath’s first try.
Russell converted and was soon placing the ball on the tee again after Lawrence burst upfield from the restart and his centre partner, Cameron Redpath, acted as linkman to send Spencer away to touch down in the corner.
Virimi Vakatawa was an obvious threat for the visitors and the France international left home defenders floundering after half an hour, only to offload to Bath flanker Miles Reid just short of the line.
Another stunning Bristol counterattack prompted by skipper Harry Randall should have earned a try, but when the ball was swept left, possession was lost on the Bath line.
Bath led 17-7 at the break and both sides adopted a cagier approach to the second half, before Bristol scored two tries in four minutes.
First, Lane latched on to a kick by Sheedy to score a try in the left corner and then replacement full-back Malins, a late withdrawal with illness last week, finished off a spectacular counter sparked by Gabriel Ibitoye.
Sheedy was unable to convert either try but Russell missed a simple penalty at the other end to leave Bristol leading 17-19 on 60 minutes, although Sheedy was wide with a kick at the other end.
Malins raised Bath hopes by knocking on in his 22 and Russell nudged his side into the lead with a penalty under the posts. Sheedy had yet another opportunity from out wide but his penalty attempt, though well struck, dipped under the bar.
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Earlier on Friday Bath announced the signing of Italy’s World Cup hooker, the New Zealand-born Hame Faiva, formerly of Benetton and Worcester.
Meanwhile, the Sale winger Arron Reed scored two tries to send his side top of the table as they recorded a 40-22 comeback victory at home to Newcastle.
The outside centre, Sam James, and wing, Tom Roebuck, both crossed in the final minutes as Sale quelled an inspired Newcastle fight back in the second half.
England’s Ben Curry and South Africa’s Rob Du Preez both scored tries for the hosts in the first half in an end-to-end game with the debutant Louis Brown, Callum Chick, Bryan Byrne and Iwan Stephens scoring for the Falcons.
