As we head towards the Six Nations break we are sitting pretty in second place in the Prem table on 40 points.

It might have been a bit of a topsy turvey win against Falcons that we appeared to try and win at least three times, but ultimately we scored 8 tries and pulled away in the final 'quarter'.

We break down the game in our somewhat cheery and rambly way as well as going off on a few tangents with thoughts on whether we should sign Santi Carreras and whether it was appropriate for the England players to be seen on socials having a jolly on a golf course in Girona when their mates are getting smashed up in England.

We also have a chat about the Womens' heartbreaking defeat at Trailfinders and wonder whether the 'Bears way' is still a work in progress for them. However, Sale's defeat of Exeter has left the door open for Bristol to sneak into the play-offs as long as they score a maximum 15 points from their last three games. They are back at Shaftesbury Park on Saturday so get youself down there and cheer them on...

All this and more with Pete, Lee and Miles having a cheeky beer and a bit of rugby banter down at the legendary Bristol Beer Factory Taproom

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You’re listening to Bears Beyond The Gate, a Bristol Bears podcast made by fans for fans. We three regulars at Ashton Gate who love the club, the game and all things Bears.

This week we look back on two Saturday fixtures with the Women going first with a bonus point victory 43-29 win against Leicester Tigers women at Ashton Gate and the Men managing to snatch defeat from the Jaws of a Draw at the Stade Marcel Michelin in Clermont-Ferrand.

It was another welcome 5 points for the Women in their quest for a play off semi final but given that they conceded 29 points to a team that were beaten 100 nil last weekend by Saracens, does their defence review definitely fall into the ‘learnings and work-ons’ category. Furthermore, it's our longest and most in-depth review of a Bears' Women game ever!

As for the Men, it was the second year in a row that they got dumped out of two European cup competitions in one fell swoop albeit in much more courageous circumstances than that dark night in Galway last season. There is no doubt that we were handed an insanely tough group but should we be expecting more and did we get our game management right on the night? The debate rages.

Finally, we look forward to the visit of Newcastle Falcons next Sunday with all our fingers and toes crossed that we didn’t pick up any more injuries in France. Is five points a non negotiable or will it be a trickier fixture than our respective league positions might suggest.

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The boys come together at the Bristol Beer Factory after a couple of cheeky pints to review the narrow victory at the Gate aganst Benetton. It was an inconsistent win but with plenty to be postive about despite almost losing at the end.

Before that though, Miles issues a public apology to the whole Italian nation and we run through a large list of people who we saw at the game.

We then offer our analysis based on what we could actually remember as well as broadening the discussion to all manner of rugby-related subjects, including the Bears Womens' clinical victory at Sandy Park which saw Ilona Maher score a debut try right out of the Jonah Lomu playbook.

Finally we have a suprise guest a superfan Simon Stone joins us as he happened to wander past the BBF on his way home.

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All this and more!

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So, after the Christmas comedown, a visit to Saracens was always going to be a tough assignment given their team and our track record in North London.

In the end a cheeky point was probably about right although we did look a few gift horses in the mouth and on another day we might have left with a few more.

The Bears Women were also in action today with nearly 10K fans at Ashton Gate keen to catch a glimpse of Ilona Maher and equally as importantly, a league victory.

They got the first but sadly not the second as Gloucester/Hartbury spoiled the party with a dominant second half performance. Miles was there and tells us about it.

Finally we preview next Sunday’s Champion Cup game against Benetton with the help of a special guest and Bristol legend Andy Uren who makes his first return to his hometown since moving to Treviso. He tells us about how his move came about, reminisces about his days with the Bears, and then looks forward to his return to Ashton Gate.

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In this week's episode Miles is off sick so we bring in a heavyweight replacement to provide laser sharp analysis of where it all went wrong.

Welcome Mr Dave Attwood for his second appearance on the pod!

Dave breaks down Friday's disappointing result from a recent player's perspective and we jump on his bandwagon to give our view from the stands.

Ultimately we decide that it's a blip that needs to be flushed down the toilet and never be mentioned again.

That said, we continue with our listener poetry which is slightly darker than in previous weeks and then look forward to the next tough assigment away at the Stone X where we will meet a wounded Saracens side who were also on the sharp end of a humping. We assume this will make them very, very angry but then our boys will want to make up for the festive flop, so who knows? At least it's an away game!

If you like what you hear then please leave a rating or a review on your chosen podcast platform or get in touch at bearsbeyondthegate@gmail.com or via the 'let us know what you think' link below.

Up the New Year Bears!

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We are back after a two week break and dive straight into a quick review of the tough European campaign. A great effort from the lads away at La Rochelle but ultimately we are sitting at the bottom of the table. We briefly discuss what this might mean for the ‘Andy Uren derby’ when Benetton come to town in January and then swiftly move on to more pressing matters…

You know…

The rugby massacre at Welford Road.

We do our best to give justice to the record-breaking events that unfolded on Saturday with a smorgasbord of hyperbole and cliches but also a strange lack of ‘phenomenals’ from Miles.

Unfortunately we left the cliche bell at home but feel free to make your own ‘dings’ as you work thought the episode!

We also read out some choice rugby poetry from our hard core listeners and then finish off with a review of the how the Bears Women have fared in the last couple of weeks now that the Ilona Maher carnival has parked up for Christmas.

The positive vibes running through all aspects of Bristol Bears are just incredible at the moment and we all need to keep surfing that wave.

Happy Christmas and hopefully see a lot of your at Gate on Friday!

Much love,

Pete, Miles and Lee.

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In a very short late Sunday night post-match pod Pete and Miles reflect on the defeat to Leinster at a very windy Ashton Gate.

Lets be honest - they were lucky to be 7-7 at the break having lost two men to the bin and struggling to find a way through the Bristol's inspired defence that also had to contend with the loss on AJ MacGinty after 5 mins, and a reshuffle that put BJVR at fly half.

However, they were lucky enough to have both a World Cup winner and runner up on the bench alongside the probable Lions captain so inevitably they ended up winning.

That said, there were many positives to take from the game, not least yet another inspirational performance from Fitz '80 minute' Harding, but ultimately the second half reminded us that if we are serious about going deep in Europe now or in the future, let alone the Premiership, then we need a bigger squad. End of story.

And given the number of injuries we suffered, our trip to La Rochelle next week looks increasing like it might be a re-run of the Charge of the Light Brigade.

But hey, stranger things have happened and we will be eagerly looking forward to Joe Owen schooling Will Skelton and Fitz Harding humbling Gregory Alldritt!

Up the Bears!....

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To mark the European heavyweights from Dublin's visit to Ashton gate on Sunday, former Bristol Bear and Leinster player Ian Madigan joins us for an episode packed with insights and nostalgia.

He shares treasured memories from his time at Bristol, revealing what it was like to play under Pat Lam's leadership and how it shaped his approach to rugby. We also talk about Ian's transition to life off the field, where he's now navigating the worlds of television and marketing, and the exciting news of expecting his first child.

Plus, Ian spills the beans on Leinster's strategies ahead of their Champions Cup face-off with the Bears, giving fans something to chew on before the big game.

And he thinks Jordie Barrett will play.

Ever wondered what goes into making a rugby commentator tick? We also discuss the art of punditry with Ian as he outlines the delicate balance between live analysis and setting expectations pre-match. Ian reflects on his journey from Bordeaux to Bristol, motivated by Pat Lam's compelling team vision, and shares insights into the changing dynamics between top leagues and the English championship. His anecdotes about building a team from the ground up offer a rare glimpse into the challenges and rewards of creating a winning dynamic, even if that meant playing in driving snow at Rotherham in front of one man and his husky.

So grab a pint of the dark stuff (Guinness or even BBF nitro stout) and join us for a stroll down memory lane as Mads takes us through unforgettable moments with the Bristol Bears, highlighting the camaraderie and mentorship that defines the sport, the competitive edge between the Pro 14 and the English Premiership, and the pressures faced by coaches in these high-stakes environments.

As we wrap up with anticipation for the upcoming Leinster match, it's clear that the ties within the rugby community run deep, and the bonds formed on and off the pitch are what truly make the journey worthwhile.

Cheers to the weekend and the enduring spirit of rugby!...

Up the European bears!

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