Lineout Win

By Ian Todd
November 14 2010

Despite dominating much of the play, Bristol struggled to finish off a side that, whilst offering a threat in the backline, had problems winning ball from the set piece.  Two tries from George Watkins, one from James Merriman and an excellent all-round display from Adrian Jarvis were enough to see off the visitors who scored two tries of their own

An aimless kicking duel started the game before being mercifully terminated by Sean Marsden's touch-finder.  Bristol eventually got going forward, despite Elliott's unsympathetic pass to Mako Vunipola.  Esher were penalised and Adrian Jarvis showed the proper use of the boot to take Bristol well into Esher's twenty-two.  The line-out was scrappy but Bristol attacked and Jarvis picked out Jack Adams who crashed into the defence.  Quick recycling released George Watkins out wide for a touch down in the corner.  Jarvis was spot on with the difficult conversion to give Bristol a 7 - 0 lead. 

Bristol looked lively and good handling combined with direct running brought the crowd to life only for a knock-on to halt the momentum.  Esher regrouped as Bristol gave away a couple of soft penalties.  A neat interchange from Whitehead and Griffiths troubled the home defence but fierce tackling from Wayne Thompson forced a knock-on.  Bristol errors allowed Esher to keep up the pressure and Bristol went offside to give Ulph a go at the posts and he obliged to narrow the gap to 7 - 3. 

Esher then gave away a penalty for handling in the ruck to allow Jarvis to kick well into the twenty-two.  Bristol drove from the lineout and then switched play out to midfield.  Jarvis fed Junior Fatialofa who went close.  Esher went off their feet to give away a penalty that Jarvis sent over to restore the margin to seven points.  Esher tried to hit back but a foot in touch stopped a dangerous looking move.  A fine drive from the line-out pushed the visitors back and Fatialofa took the ball up only to be penalised for crossing.  Bristol disrupted the lineout and a clearance kick edged Esher further back.  An Esher knock-on was hoofed upfield and Watkins and Bolt followed up speedily to put Esher under real pressure.  Vunipola handed off a couple of tackles as Bristol hammered to within metres of the line, only to be penalised for going off their feet. 

Bristol again won the Esher lineout and swept onto the attack but once more the referee called for crossing.  This time Esher secured their lineout but were promptly penalised in midfield to let Jarvis drive his side back inside the Esher half.  The Esher defence was solid and Jarvis had little option but to kick, giving Esher a twenty-two drop-out.  This was defended poorly to let Esher get a lineout, but they continued to struggle and Jarvis again kicked Bristol into the Esher twenty-two.  Finally, Esher won a lineout and fine kick from Slemen sent the ball to touch on the opposite wing.

Sloppy play from Bristol allowed Ulph to hack the ball down the left wing and he followed up well, the final kick eluding him as it went in-goal but he was well supported and Garner touched down for a converted and equalising score.

A Jarvis penalty took Bristol to the edge of the Esher twenty-two.  Adams made good ground and Watkins again made inroads.  A flat cross-field kick was well taken by Elliott but he could make no advance and the referee, playing advantage, called play back for a penalty.  Jarvis obliged to edge Bristol back in front 13 - 10 with just minutes of the half left. 

Watkins got Bristol going at the start of the half and both Vunipola and then Adams smashed into the defence.  Fatialofa followed up and passed out of the tackle to Watkins who sprinted over out left for a converted try to take the score to 20 -10 with less than a minute played.  Following another poor Esher line-out Marsden made great ground out left and it looked as if Bristol were certain to score. Disaster struck as Esher seized on a loose pass to launch a breakaway upfield, finished by Mullen under the posts for 20 - 17.

Bristol countered from sloppy Esher play and Marsden once more set Watkins going to kick ahead for a touch 5 metres out.  The Esher lineout continued to misfire and James Merriman was able to take the overthrow and speed over.  Jarvis again converted and it was 27 -17.  Dan Montagu made a typically powerful run before Jarvis pushed Esher well into their half, doubtless aware of the lineout frailties.  Bristol forced the error and a free-kick saw Montagu again make ground.  A missed pass was sadly knocked on but Esher were penalised at the subsequent scrum.  Jarvis went for the posts and was unerring, bringing the score to 30 -17.

A fine run from Ulph split the Bristol defence as the visitors tried to hit back but the defence regrouped and Esher were penalised for holding on in the face of disciplined defence. Watkins showed his skill and pace with another neat break and grubber kick that put Esher under great pressure, forcing a lineout.  The driving maul was excellent but was held out.  Slow ball eventually went to Adams before the forwards again piled in.  Out left went the ball as Bristol plugged away, inside again but the only result was a tame knock-on.

Esher failed to make much of this let-off and Bristol continued to search for the bonus point try.  Play though was very laboured and the hosts just could not fashion an opening. However, an Esher player saw yellow after a series of infringements.  Jarvis poked the ball into touch and finally the line seemed to have been breached but sadly the referee did not agree.  Bristol lost the put-in at the scrum but won a rare take against the head, only to be penalised to let Esher off the hook.  Mullen was fed from the line out and he ducked Anthony Elliott's tackle to speed from inside his own half, only to be tackled agonisingly short of the line.  Esher hammered away as the Bristol tackles crashed in.  Bristol gave away a penalty.  Esher tapped and went but still could not break the defensive line.  At the death the ball squeezed out of the side of the ruck into touch to frustrate Esher's hopes.