Bristol Bears set up another scrum in the middle of the park and decide to go left. Luke Daniels evades Chris Cook but can't get the offload away to his winger Alapati Leiua.

Daniels stays down after the error, he looks in a bit of pain and is receiving some attention on his hamstring. With Charles Piutau out at the moment, the Bears' fans won't want to see this.

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The fly-half steps up and gives the ball a good old thwack!

Bristol Bears have had very little possession or territory but we all know that it's the scoreline that counts and right now they're on the right side of it.

JP Doyle calls Steve Luatua in for a chat as Bristol Bears' scrum-half Nic Stirzaker appeals and shouts at the referee for a penalty.

The match officials are going to be very clear about not letting that occur in the game this season and Stirzaker is just reminded of that.

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Wow, wow, wow!

Luke Morahan has just blown open the field of play with an exceptional break off his first touch of the ball!

The winger surged between two Bath forwards, charged towards the line and around Tom Homer.

Crucially for the visitors, Joe Cokanasiga uses his pace to get back and his power to halt Morahan but what a lift that will give Pat Lam's side.

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Bath are continuing to press, and press with purpose, but JP Doyle's whistle sounds and Jordan Crane is rewarded for excellent work at the breakdown.

The cries of 'Bristol, Bristol, Bristol' ring around Ashton Gate and their fans know that a spot of field position and territory would be very welcome right now!

Gareth Chilcott
Ex-England and Bath prop on BBC Radio Bristol

At the moment Bristol are being blown away. Their forwards are manful and they need to make it more of an arm-wrestle.

I'm surprised they are still 3-0 up.

It's a little bit nervy from Bristol Bears right now, they gain a great turnover through Steve Luatua's interception. But, Ian Madigan decides to put the ball through the hands instead of dropping into the pocket and clearing with a monster of a kick.

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Bath have enjoyed 67% possession so far but a penalty off the post and that error from Tom Homer means that points haven't been forthcoming.

They have a lineout five-metres out and set the maul rolling. The visitors are pressing, can they find a way over the line?

Gareth Chilcott
Ex-England and Bath prop on BBC Radio Bristol

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Why Rhys Priestland had to give that pass, I don't know.

That's a big blow for Bath and a big boost for the Bristol hordes.

Tom Homer crosses for Bath after a superbly worked team move but on review from the TMO, Rowan Kitt, the try is chalked off.

Homer is deemed to have knocked-on instead of grounding it cleanly with one hand. Rhys Priestland was the man to give the full-back the final pass and looking back the fly-half might have been able to go over himself.

It's a monster scrum from Bath and it gains them a penalty. Rhys Priestland eyes up the kick, he has the distance but hits the left-hand post.

The ball falls in front of Zach Mercer but he can't control it. Mercer yelps in anguish because if he had take it cleanly then it would have been an easy five points.

We mentioned Joe Cokanasiga in the build up and once the ball gets into his hands, he shows just a glimpse of what he's made of.

The winger darts his way around multiple defenders before the move continues. Sam Underhill, someone all England fans will hope to see a lot of this season, pops a neat offload away to Semesa Rokoduguni. He tries to find Nathan Catt but the prop can't take it cleanly.

Gareth Chilcott
Ex-England and Bath prop on BBC Radio Bristol

Bristol have done well. For eight minutes they have looked well worth their three-point lead.

Bath have cruised into this game and they haven't really had any urgency.

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Matt Garvey is pinged at the breakdown.

Ian Madigan steps up to the plate and kicks their first three points of the new Premiership season.

It's a little bit of a scrum fest at the beginning of this game.

Bath use their ball well but after they put it skywards their hosts knock-on. The Bears are pinged for an early shove, Bath go for a second scrum and Taulupe Faletau peels off well.

The No 8 finds Semesa Rokoduguni on the right but he's wrapped up well and the home side gain a platform of their own back.

Bristol Bears have the put in and it's a rock solid first scrum.

Yann Thomas, Harry Thacker and John Afoa form the Bears' front-row and the early signs are positive.

A Bristol knock-on from the ensuing ball brings about a second scrum and on their own put in Bath deliver clean ball too.

Jamie Roberts gives away an early penalty for a monster of a hit on Luke Daniels.

It's a beast of a tackle but JP Doyle deems that it's too high. Rhys Priestland's kick out on the full and a fumbled intercept attempt from Chris Cook finishes a busy but slightly off-kilter start from Bath. Time for our first scrum of the new season...

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The White Stripes' 'Seven Nation Army' rings out, both sides are on the field and JP Doyle is waiting in the middle.

It's been called the West Country derby to rival all West Country derbies and Rhys Priestland gets the game under way.

This little guy is ready... are you?

Bath are out on the pitch at Ashton Gate and their hosts are about to take to the field.

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Todd Blackadder and Pat Lam have just a few moments to say their final messages before the season starts.

Both sides are packed with talent, both know what it means to start the season off the back of a victory and both know just how important the West Country bragging rights are!

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