Heward earns win for Bristol against Exeter with rain stopping open play

Prem Rugby: Exeter 3-8 Bristol
Visitors leapfrog Exeter before Six Nations break

So much rain has been falling out west this week that Bristol could almost have floated down to Devon in canoes. Add in more heavy downpours, a tricky wind and a horribly slippery ball and there was never any chance of a free-flowing, fast-paced spectacle between two of the league’s more fluent attacking sides. This was a sodden slog, pure and simple, with only a rainbow or two to add a splash of colour.

Not that the Bears will care about the trench warfare nature of a victory that consolidates them above their opponents in the playoff places entering the Prem’s two-month hiatus. On an afternoon demanding character, perseverance and effort the visitors displayed all three, a first-half try from the appropriately named Noah Heward edging an old-school wrestling match.