IT had to happen one day and now it has.

Bristol at the 19th time of asking have buried their Bath hoodoo by beating their old rivals for the first time in a league meeting and the first time overall since April 1988.

The Memorial Ground side stole the honours in a match full of commitment but sadly lacking in quality from both teams.

Bath coach Jon Callard summed up the feelings of the majority of the 6,335 present.

"It was an awful game of rugby," he said, "drab and dismal.

"We were dire at times, the whole game was dire. If we could keep the ball I thought we'd have won comfortably. Our turnover rate was unacceptable.''

Callard was understandably less than pleased with his side but was quicker to praise their opponents.

He said: "Credit to Bristol, they made far fewer mistakes, so they deserved to get the result.''

Bristol's coach Dean Ryan was far more jubilant in his praise for his side.

"It was important for this group of players to win," said the abrasive former back-row man.

"And it lays down a marker on how far we've come since the beginning of the season. It's a wonderful result.''

Despite recording a historic victory, winning captain Agustin Pichot preferred to focus on the future.

The Argentinian scrum half who sneaked over for the game's only try just after the break said: "It is quite tough to come back from international rugby to an important match.

"I'm delighted that the team responded well. We need to start getting out of that bottom line and the only way to do that is to start beating teams like Bath. Now we've got to keep up the pace.''

Bristol's club chairman Malcolm Pearce was delighted with the outcome and with the support his side received from a vociferous crowd.

"They're coming to see first class rugby here now. It'll take a few years to build back up, but we're grateful for those that do come,'' he said.

For Bath, who were without their international backs it's a massive blow to their title chances but Callard was able to put things into perspective.

He stated that at least the "historical baggage that comes with this fixture'' has now gone and despite a fourth league defeat of the season Callard refuses to accept that his team's title aspirations are over.

"This league is still wide open'' he said.