Bristol Bears have put a big score on Leicester Tigers

Leicester Tigers have been handed a heavy beating away to the Bristol Bears, with their former hooker Harry Thacker scoring two tries against his former club.

The visitors had been within three points after the opening quarter thanks to a try from Manu Tuilagi but were forced to play a man short for almost an hour after Kyle Eastmond’s red card for a high tackle – report Premiership Rugby.

Luke Morahan and Harry Randall both touched down after the break for the hosts, who topped up their total with 21 points from the boot of Ian Madigan.

Try machine Thacker gave Bristol the perfect start, after he was fed by Alapati Leiua following a burst right through the middle of the Tigers defence where he turned Jonah Holmes inside and out before releasing the hooker to score.

Thacker’s try against his former club came after a hat-trick against Wasps last weekend.

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After a Madigan penalty extended the hosts’ lead to 10 points they were reeled in by a spectacular score from centre Manu Tuilagi.

Fresh from his first England appearance in two years last weekend, the outside centre carried the ball from the base of a ruck 25 metres out and weaved around the defence to dive over and score.

The visitors’ chances of registering a first win in three games was greatly reduced after centre Eastmond was sent off for a high tackle on Madigan after 25 minutes.

After the red card a series of penalties were exchanged by the Irishman and his opposite number George Ford – leaving it 16-10 to the hosts.

Just before the break Thacker had his second but only after referee Wayne Barnes had gone over the try with TMO Trevor Fisher – the hooker touched down after he was put through by flanker Steven Luatua, making it 21-10 to hosts at the break.

Bristol continued to make the most of their numerical advantage just after half-time with winger Luke Morahan adding a third try for the hosts.

? MASSIVE bonus-point win at @ashtongatestad. ?#BRIvLEI pic.twitter.com/RahisO8PRM

— Bristol Bears ? (@BristolBears) December 1, 2018

The Aussie flier weaved around Jonny May and then took off from 60 metres out with open space to race through to score.

Bristol continued to turn the screw with scrum-half Harry Randall registering the bonus-point try after 50 minutes, as the No. 9 turned his opposite number Ben Youngs inside-out before racing through to score for his first try for the club.

Leicester did push for some late points despite being down to 14 but Bristol managed to keep them out, as they grabbed their third win of the campaign.

The final score was 41 – 10.

Source: Premiership Rugby