The visitors went in front inside 10 minutes when Darren Atkins latched onto Aled Brew’s fine offload to race in from 35 metres, with Josh Lewis adding the conversion.

United exerted control over the opening passages of play, with Lewis adding two penalties in quick succession to extend the visitors’ advantage to 0-13.

The fly-half missed the target with a further attempt as United dominated the first period, before Tom Hargan went close for Bristol with a half-break inside the opposition 22.

United continued to enjoy the ascendancy and pushed further ahead when Nathan Charles rumbled over from close-range on the half hour, with Lewis converting once more.

On the stroke of half-time - and following a spell of attacking pressure – the hosts reduced the deficit courtesy of Jack Wallace’s touch down and subsequent conversion from Callum Sheedy.

Half-time: Bristol United 7 – Bath United 20.

United maintained the pressure on their West Country rivals and notched their third score after the interval when the powerful pack turned the screw at scrum-time and earned a penalty try. Lewis kept the scoreboard ticking over with another penalty before Wallace’s neat finish on the hour mark ensured Bristol kept their noses in the game. 12-30.

United’s fourth try came from an interception from the alert Levi Davis, while replacement prop Paddy Ryan crashed over for the fifth in the closing stages.

A late yellow card to Josh Bayliss gave Bristol the man advantage, and two quick scores followed from replacement prop Alex Gibson and Callum Bowden. Bowden's gave the home side a try-bonus point, but a last-gasp Lewis penalty put the icing on the cake of a convincing away win in Weston-Super-Mare.

Final score: Bristol United 24 – Bath United 47.

Bath United record bonus point win over Bristol counterparts

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