Bristol’s Big Day Out turns sour as Harlequins and Isgro spoil the party

• Bristol 14-18 Harlequins

• Bristol’s playoff hopes damaged after defeat in Cardiff

On paper Bristol’s Big Day Out concept in Cardiff was a decent one. From the Bears’ perspective it offered a chance to attract a few more floating voters and show them a good time in one of the world’s great stadiums. For the Prem as a whole it also massages the league’s aggregate attendance figures and projects the sense of a tournament growing steadily bigger and better.

For the satisfaction index to hit the necessary heights, however, the most basic part of the equation has to be fulfilled. Unfortunately for the Bears’ marketeers this contest did absolutely nothing for Bristolian blood pressure as they contrived to lose to a Harlequins side previously without a win in six matches and suffer a serious dent to their playoff prospects