Bath scored five tries before the break and three more in the second half to secure a bonus-point win that keeps them top of Pool 4 and in the box seat for a home quarter-final.

Man of the match Ford was on a different level to anyone else on the pitch in the opening 40 minutes, sparking his team into life and ending the game with 20 points despite being substituted shortly after half time with the game won.

An entertaining opening quarter began with a fast start. Anthony Watson went over the line but was just tackled into touch before dotting down and a couple of minutes later, Billy Searle gave Bristol a 3-0 lead with a monster penalty from just inside the Bath half.

That failed to worry the visitors though as they continued to spread the ball across the field. With Ford prompting the Bath attack, an overthrown Bristol line-out was collected by Tom Dunn who powered over from close range.

Ford added the extras, but that was just the start.

Two more flowing team moves started by Ford saw Tom Homer and Robbie Fruean cross the try line in the 17^th and 25^th minutes respectively as the Bath backs cut Bristol’s defence to ribbons. Ford converted both tries and had kicked an earlier penalty to make it 24-3 and leave Todd Blackadder’s men on the verge of a bonus point with less than half an hour played.

It didn’t take long for the fourth score to arrive, either.

Bath were utterly dominant and with some weak Bristol tackling not helping the Ashton Gate outfit, Kahn Fotuali’i brushed off two defenders and sprinted clear to crash over under the posts. Ford booted his fourth conversion of the day to take his team past the 30-point mark.

The action was relentless and Bristol, who had offered nothing since Searle’s three-pointer, were the next to score. Tom Varndell broke away for their first of the day, Searle converting, but it was fitting that the sublime Ford had the last laugh of the first half.

Taking the ball flat to the line in trademark fashion, the England fly-half ghosted through a gap to score and convert his team’s fifth try.

At 38-10 a high-octane first period had already settled the game in Bath’s favour. Strangely, the second half started in the same fashion as the first with Watson having another effort ruled out.

Fotuali’i’s second soon got the scoring back underway though, the scrum-half crossing from close range. Ford’s last action of the game was to kick his sixth conversion before being replaced by Rhys Priestland. Bristol also took conceding their latest try as the opportunity to make a raft of changes, and they soon had an impact.

Tusi Pisi’s burst allowed Rhodri Williams to dart over, Searle converting, before Semesa Rokodugini’s try took Bath to 50 points at the hour mark. Both teams were now intent on scoring more tries and the result was entertaining for the Bristol crowd despite the one-sided nature of the scoreline.

The non-stop action continued and there was still time for one more try for either side.

Chris Cook crossed in the 78^th minute, Homer converting, before Jack Tovey got Bristol’s latest consolation after the clock had ticked past the 80-minute mark.