Ben Banyard

Hi! I'm now on Bluesky and will shortly be deactivating my X account. Please come and give me a follow! bsky.app/profile/benban…

@watts_mf Definitions of winning at life, right there!

Well ladies and gents at least I didn’t spend £100 on a ticket, £100 on the train, £10 a 🍺 in the stadium bars and have to endure a 2hr scrum at Twickenham station for a 4hr journey back to Bristol to watch this absolute 💩.

@watts_mf I thought Oghre would be nailed on for a place in the squad. Only one Bear - even Glaws have got two in there!

I find it hard to believe that these are the 3 best hookers in England (2 of which are at Sarries) and there is no place for Gabe Oghre. Also hard TJ believe that Joe Batley hasn’t been given a chance.

@NCL_RedBulls @BristolBears One of the best away performances at Ashton Gate this season - looks like a real mindset shift within the club. A competitive Newcastle is a great thing for the Prem.

FT: Bristol Bears 36 Newcastle Red Bulls 27 A bonus point in the West Country. Well done to @BristolBears on your win, and thank you to everyone who followed the action.

@watts_mf Felt like we got away with one there. Newcastle a totally different proposition now. They used to turn up and try not to lose too heavily. Total mindset shift.

What did I say…? The cavalry was required to save the day and the 5 points…

@BrisVADAR @BristolBears Such a lovely tribute and it felt like the applause for Arthur gave the team a massive push for that first try. So sorry for your unimaginable loss, from a fellow @GordanoRFC parent.

💙🐻Arthur: Always A Bear 🐻💙 @BristolBears v Newcastle Red Bulls To everyone going today make yourselves heard in the 18th minute….Arthur will be smiling!! THANK YOU!! 💙🐻🤍

@watts_mf Put it this way, it wasn't until I got home from the game and read the match report that I found out why they disallowed the Chiefs try at the end!

@bbanyard I think that was a trial wasn’t it?

Well the RFU referees assessor will have fun picking the 🦴 out of that one. I’ve watched 🏉 for almost 40 years and I’ve never seen a more inept performance by a referee.

@BearsBeyondGate @BristolBears Found you! Ta.

@bbanyard @BristolBears We already have one but I keep forgetting to post on it…

@BristolBears @BearsBeyondGate Any chance of setting up new Bluesky accounts? I'm keen to ditch X for obvious reasons but following the team is one of my (very) few reasons for staying here. You can automatically cross-post if time/resource is an issue.

@BristolBears Made up for the knock-on and forward pass for the Benetton "try" before half time and the poor linesman on the Lansdown side of the ground!

Rhyno Smith crosses for Benetton but the TMO rules it out for obstruction in the build up. 🐻 35-29 🦁 (78 mins) #BRIvBEN | #BristolBears

@SaleSharksRugby Fair play, that was a terrific performance by Sharks. As a Bears fan I never look forward to this fixture, but I wasn't expecting that. If you keep playing like that you really deserve to make the playoffs. Off to drown my sorrows!

𝗕𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗦 𝗖𝗔𝗚𝗘𝗗 Now that’s a thing of beauty! 🐻 00-38 🦈 #SharksAreCircling

@BristolBears @XledgerUK The annual Christmas present for us Bears fans...10 wins away and currently saving their worst performances for home matches, this time in front of a huge crowd.

All over at Ashton Gate as the visitors take the points. Thank you for your support tonight. #BRIvSAL | @XledgerUK

@leinsterrugby Class of the Leinster squad really told in the end - a pleasure to watch (even as a Bears fan). Also, that's the biggest away following I've seen at Ashton Gate - fair play to the Leinster fans who made the trip in what must have been awful conditions!

Coming home with the bonus point. 🛫 #BRIvLEI #FromTheGroundUp

@IMcMillan I was lucky to live and study in Exmouth for a few years in the late 90s and still return regularly. My commute into Exeter on the Avocet line always seemed to sugar the pill of early mornings when student days were over! Lympstone is a very pretty little village on that line.

Devon sent: a short, epic train ride into the wintry wonders of the Exe estuary. This train trip is on my bucket list! theguardian.com/travel/2024/no…

@matriches But having to listen to Lee Dixon.

Never expected to see this in my lifetime. Massive congratulations to @Sadik4Pharmacy - my new Labour MP!

The link would help! amazon.co.uk/stores/Ben-Ban…

My first two @IndigoDreamsPub books, "Communing" and "We Are All Lucky", are now available to read on your Kindle. Enjoy!

@DamonHenry4 @BristolBears @XledgerUK @BlueBullsRugby And that's not even their first choice XV!

@bbanyard @BristolBears @XledgerUK @BlueBullsRugby I'd say they're probably the best team I've seen at the gate in a while. Powerful scrum, great flankers, excellent wings/full back.

Defeat at Ashton Gate. #BRIvBUL | @XledgerUK