Bristol (17) 20
Tries: Blowers, Lemi Cons: Jarvis 2 Pens: Jarvis 2
Bath (17) 33
Tries: Maddock, Cheeseman, Faamatuainu Cons: James 3 Pens: James 4
Bath scored three tries to two to win the West country derby.
Bristol took the lead through a converted Andrew Blowers try but Bath hit back through a Butch James penalty and Joe Maddock's converted try.
Adrian Jarvis levelled the scores with a penalty and although Tom Cheeseman put Bath back in front David Lemi made it 17-17 at the break.
James then added three penalties to one from Jarvis before Bath scored through Jonny Fa'amatuainu to pull well clear.
Bristol head coach Richard Hill:
"It wasn't the start to the season that we would have wanted but Bath are a good side.
"All our players tried as hard as they could and you can't fault them at all. They played to the best of their ability and gave everything which is all you can ask.
"It was disappointing to lose but I don't think we'll come across many better sides than that."
Bath coach Steve Meehan:
"Bristol are a tremendously tenacious side, they never give you anything, and you have to work for every point.
"I was happy with our performance overall, particularly the pack. I thought our scrum and line-out play was very good and that allowed everything else to flow.
"We got quick ball and fly-half Butch James mixed-up the game, whether he released the backs or kicked, and got us on the front foot."
Bristol: L Arscott; T Arscott, Fatialofa, Maggs, Lemi; Jarvis, Thomas; Irish, Linklater, Hobson, Budgett, Sidoli, Blowers, El Abd, Ward-Smith.
Replacements: Barden for Fatialofa (40), Barnes for Maggs (67), Bracken for Hobson (67), Sambucetti for Budgett (67), R Pennycook for Blowers (67).
Not Used: Blaney, Beveridge.
Bath: Abendanon; Maddock, Cheeseman, Fuimaono-Sapolu, Banahan; James, Claassens; Barnes, Mears, Stevens, Harrison, Short, Hooper, Scaysbrook, Faamatuainu.
Replacements: Cuthbert for Maddock (74), Berne for Cheeseman (75), Bemand for Claassens (75), Flatman for Barnes (56), Dixon for Mears (65), Bell for Stevens (65), Ovens for Scaysbrook (78).
Att: 11,021
Ref: Chris White (RFU).
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