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A new hope

Debut
By Leipziger March 14 2008
The post-John Fletcher era begins at Kingston Park on Sunday with the visit of Bristol in a match which will give the winner an advantage in the race for ninth place in the Premiership. Not great, but that’s why we are without a manager at the moment, ay?

Bristol have endured a disappointing season too after finishing third last season in only their second season back in the top division, with only one away victory so far, away to Leeds on Sunday, although they have won at Harlequins in the Heineken Cup and in a pre-season friendly.

 

The 13-30 win at Headingley saw the team formerly known as Shoguns gain a bonus point with tries from Rob Higgitt, England reject Shaun Perry (2), another apparent England reject Mark Regan, and flanker Joe El Abd.

 

Before that however, were tight losses at Wasps and in a derby against Bath moved to Ashton Gate.  Bath, Sale, Harlequins, Gloucester and Worcester have also put Bristol to the sword away from the Memorial Stadium.

 

However, our visitors have a decent record at Kingston Park, having won at our gaff in only their second match back in the Premiership in September 2005, 14-16 when Matthew Burke missed a late conversion, and also 12-20 in December 2002, the season they were relegated, although at that point it looked like that fate would be our own.

 

Their last visit north, on November 3rd 2006, a top performance by Jonny Wilkinson, making his comeback from injury but also enduring the start of another spell on the sidelines, gave us a 26-21 win although after leading 23-6 at half time, it shouldn’t have been so tight.

 

Three first half tries from Mathew Tait, Matt Thompson and Brent Wilson gave us a decent advantage but in the end Lee Robinson and Dan Ward-Smith almost gave Bristol the points.

 

Bristol’s squad is built on a solid foundation of experienced forwards, particularly in the front row where alongside Regan Richard Hill also has Darren Crompton and Dave Hilton to call on, whilst behind them Roy Winters, Matt Salter and Wales’ most-capped forward Gareth Llewellyn provide strength and steel, not to mention Northampton legend and former All Black Andrew Blowers.

 

Behind the scrum, Shaun Perry has had a couple of good seasons but his England career is in tatters after a shocker against South Africa in the World Cup, and outside of him David Hill (who will leave for Japan in the summer) and Jason Strange provide reliable boots.

 

Kiwi wing Nathan Brew, the promising Tom Arscott and prolific Samoan David Lemi are dangers in the three-quarters, as well as former Falcon Anthony Elliott, although he has been restricted to only eight appearances this season.

 

Ireland’s Kevin Maggs, with 70 caps, would provide a calming head but has only played once this season, in a home LW Friendly Cup draw against Leeds.

 

Steve Bates has made six changes to the team beaten at Bath, with Academy fly-half Rob Miller making his first team debut on Sunday as expected, Joe Shaw and Tim Visser also coming into the backline.  Russell Winter and Joe McDonnell start upfront in the Falcons’ first game under a caretaker DoR, and Hall Charlton comes in from the cold onto the bench due to James Grindal’s injury.

 

15 Tom May
14 Tim Visser
13 Tom Dillon
12 Joe Shaw
11 John Rudd
10 Rob Miller
9 Lee Dickson
1 Joe McDonnell
2 Matt Thompson
3 Carl Hayman
4 Andy Perry
5 Mark Sorenson
6 Phil Dowson (captain)
7 Ben Woods
8 Russell Winter
Replacements:
16 Rob Vickers
17 David Wilson
18 Tim Swinson
19 Brent Wilson
20 Hall Charlton
21 Ollie Phillips
22 Alex Tait

  

Bristol team:

 

15: Luke Arscott
14: Anthony Elliott
13: Rob Higgitt
12: Sam Cox
11: Tom Arscott
10: Ed Barnes
9: Shaun Perry
1: Darren Crompton
2: Scott Linklater
3: Jason Hobson
4: Roy Winters
5: Sean Hohneck
6: Matt Salter (capt)
7: Joe El Abd
8: Dan Ward-Smith
Replacements:
Mark Regan

Alex ClarkeNathan BudgettAndrew BlowersHaydn ThomasJason Strange

Greg Barden

Plenty tickets still available on Sunday, the Falcons have taken action so get yourself to KP and make a big racket of support for our boys!  And lets give Miller a big cheer when his name is read out too.

Come on lads!

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