Bristol survive scare but Newcastle off the mark in Prem as Spencer seals bonus

• Bristol 36-27 Newcastle

• Visitors lose after leading 27-17 but four tries earn first point

In the end Bristol had too much. A display of equal parts grit and skill by Newcastle threatened a huge festive upset in the freezing-cold south-west, but two tries by the elusive Louis Rees-Zammit and some classically fluent attacking by Pat Lam’s buoyant team eventually enabled them to overpower their spirited visitors.

After the Bears ruined Harlequins’ Christmas at Twickenham last Saturday, sticking 40 points on the Londoners in Big Game 17, they were widely expected to ease to victory against the Prem’s bottom side, who were yet to muster a bonus point after seven matches. The question seemed to be not if Bristol would win, rather by how many.