By David Hibell
March 6 2004

A crowd of 3703 watched Bristol suffer their fourth consecutive defeat as London Welsh completed a double with an 18 – 30 victory. Joe El-Abd made his return to first team action and was soon making his presence felt, setting up James Bailey down the left wing, the ball was moved across to the left wing to set up field position but was knocked on. Bristol were to find themselves a man up shortly after when Martin Anayi was sin binned. Bristol opted for a line out from the penalty but again knocked on and Welsh were able to clear the ball to their 22.

Bristol were guilty of trying top overcomplicate things and Welsh were able to capitalise on this playing a more patient game. Awarded a penalty they went for the corner, although Bristol were able to steal possession from the line out they were only able to clear to their 22 and Welsh were able to regain the ball from the line out. The ball was moved out to strong running Adam Bidwell who powered through several missed tackles to score a converted try leaving Bristol playing catch up rugby.

The young Shoguns side applied pressure from the start driving the ball to within 10 yards of the Welsh try line but the ball was turned over again and Welsh could again clear to safety. From a line out on the 22 following a penalty Bristol w4re penalised again and Pugh was able to convert the chance to stretch the lead to 3-13.

Bristol continued to try and break through and after James Bailey fielded a high kick he passed the ball to Sean Marsden who fed Marco Stanojevic who made a great break beating six would be tacklers before he was halted by the full back. The ball was recycled and just as it looked like Bristol would score their first try the ball was again knocked on to give Welsh a scrum.

Seemingly inspired by Marco’s break the Bristol backs started to make more headway but the pattern of the last pass not going to hand or being knocked on was repeated throughout. James Bailey had a run down the right wing and was forced into touch five yards out, Richard Marin-Redman operating at the tail of the line out made a bid to cross the line but was stopped inches short. Danny Gray was able to close the gap to seven points once more after Tim Collier of London Welsh, not for the last time this match, found himself lucky to remain on the pitch after a cynical offence.

The restart was kicked straight to touch but Bristol were unable to capitalise and close the gap further in the half with more errors in the last quarter of the pitch letting them down. London Welsh had the last chance of the half with Richard Griffith the replacement back row taking play from half way to the Bristol five yard line before Welsh were guilty of conceding turn over ball and Bristol were able to clear to leave the score at 6 – 13 at half time.

The second half opened with scrappy play from both teams before some aerial ping pong from both teams. Danny Howells had a long range penalty attempt hit the crossbar and bounce under, but Welsh were first to strike in the second half with Adam Bidwell again using his strength to power through to score. As the conversion was being lined up the touch judge intervened and the score was disallowed and Bristol were awarded a penalty. The forwards drove the ball up to half way but the referee spotted an accidental offside, from the resulting play Sean Marsden had a kick charged down and Adam Bidwell was able to touch down for the third time in the afternoon to score his second try. Pugh again added the extras.

Danny Gray had a chance to close the gap within a minute of the restart but had an awful contact and the ball went well left of the posts. Bristol stayed on the attack and Joe El Abd almost broke through after a fine supporting ruin on his return to the first team but the attack was again snuffled out.

Richard Hill made four substitutions over the next few minutes sending on Richard Hunt, Greg Nicholls, Owen Evans and Neil Clark for Ollie Hodge, Saul Nelson, Sam Cox and Saul Nelson.

Bristol continued to spurn chances in the final quarter with every promising attack breaking down, but finally managed to string a few phases together with just over ten minutes to go. From a scrum awarded after the ball was knocked out of Sean Marsden’s hand, the full back having made ground down the right wing. In a move that was neat, but not Gaudi, Owen Evans found James Bailey who was able to run in a try in the left corner of the pitch. Danny Gray made amends for he earlier miss with a touchline conversion to bring Bristol a converted try behind at 13-20.

Welsh were spurned on by this score and went straight back on the attack, Tim Collier again playing on the edge of the law climbing all over the ruck to interfere with the play, and once the bal had gone reminded a Bristol player what grass looks like when its really close to you. The touch judge thought this was okay and play continued with Welsh showing Bristol how to keep possession in the opposition 22 and setting up a ruck on the try line.

Richard Hunt infringed and was sent to the sin bin with 31 minutes showing on the clock. Pugh converted the penalty to take Welsh two scores away and scores were coming thick and fast now. From the restart Bristol drove down the right side of the pitch through Sean Marsden again and when he was tackled Richard Martin-Redman found himself in space and showed great determination to run in the try with two tacklers clinging to him as he crossed the line. Danny Gray was unable to convert and the score was now 18-23 with seven minutes of play remaining.

With time running out Bristol tried to get the score that would bring them the game, James Bailey running from deep was tap tackled, got up as he wasn’t held and was penalised. London Welsh then denied Bristol a bonus point with the number 11 scoring a converted try in the corner on 40 minutes to leave the final score a disappointing 18-30.