\n<\/p>\n
Marler’s farewell may have dominated the pre-match build-up, but Bristol did their best to steal the headlines with a rampant display which, perhaps, underlines their Premiership title credentials.<\/p>\n
A ninth successive Premiership win on the road – stretching back to last December – sent them four points clear of Bath, who host Exeter in their game in hand on Saturday, while Quins stay fifth after a fourth defeat of the season.<\/p>\n
Quins set the tone for a breathless and scintillating first 40 minutes when a slick passing move ended with skipper Dombrandt scorching away down the right touchline.<\/p>\n
But Bears roared back with an outstanding score, running the ball from a lineout deep in their 22, and going coast to coast, with Ravouvou racing in.<\/p>\n
Marmion sent Quins old boy Ibitoye away for his sixth try of the campaign to open a 14-5 lead and the Bears were threatening a third score when Murley returned an interception the length of the pitch.<\/p>\n
The hosts then hit the front when Northmore stripped the ball from Ravouvou and sprinted 50 metres to the line.<\/p>\n
But in a back-and-forth half, Bears took a lead into the break when Joe Owen\u2019s burst down the left fed Ibitoye who returned the favour and gave Marmion a clear run to the line.<\/p>\n
Having had his Bears debut delayed by a pre-season injury, Fijian back-row Mata strolled under the posts from a well-worked tap penalty after Simon Kerrod was sent to the bin for intentional offside.<\/p>\n
The Bears fed off the energy of Marler’s farewell ovation as the impressive Janse van Rensburg started and finished a fifth Bears try.<\/p>\n
And, two minutes later, Grondona went over in the left corner for another try of the season contender as the Bears continued to attack from all over the pitch.<\/p>\n
Green’s breakaway score just after the hour hinted at a repeat of the 2021 Premiership semi-final when Quins fought back from 28-0 down against the Bears to win.<\/p>\n
But with both sides finally – and understandably – tiring, that proved the end of the comeback trail.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n