Perry is hoping for derby day big crowd for Bristol Rugby

Shaun Perry is hoping for a bumper Christmas gate for Bristol’s West Country derby with Gloucester at the Memorial Stadium on Saturday (3pm).

Bristol’s crowds have been poor this season – they slumped to 5,220 when Northampton visited Horfield in the European Challenge Cup eight days ago.

But the club’s continued form revival – and the Holiday Period effect – has sent ticket sales rocketing at the Memorial Stadium.

Bristol expect tickets to be available on the day of the game but yesterday only 300 tickets were available for the Centenary Terrace and 1,500 remain for the Bass Terrace. All the seats have been sold.

Perry said: “Five thousand is still a considerable amount but when the Memorial Stadium is a full to the rafters everyone is cheering and chanting – it is a little bit extra special.

“I know it is the old cliché of being the 16th man but they are there cheering you on and when you get in the danger zone at the Mem the noise gets louder.

“You do get that buzz and that’s what you need as a player. It is amazing when it does happen and hopefully it will be like that on Saturday.”

He added: “Gloucester at home is going to be a challenge for us but hopefully we can get more of a crowd at the Memorial Stadium.

“It is over the Christmas period and the crowd last week was a bit disappointing.

"You need the Bristol faithful cheering you on.”

Bristol claimed a 20-20 draw at Worcester on Saturday to climb a point adrift of second from bottom Newcastle.

Perry added: “We did have to dig deep. We came back at the end. Ed Barnes nailed the penalty.

“We need every point we can get this season and those two points help.”