By Ian Todd
September 19 2010

In a step up from last week's 'performance' Bristol came away with a 13-all draw against Moseley. Watkins and Vanipola scored for Bristol but the hosts came back to earn a deserved draw.

Moseley kicked off the game in overcast and breezy conditions.  This was returned to the Moseley half by Adrian Jarvis.  However, Moseley took the ball back to Bristol out left and burst clear down the wing.  A succession of Bristol tackles took down each of the ball carriers in turn until Moseley ran out of supporting players.  Isolated, the final player held on to the ball and was penalised.  An early scare for Bristol that was soon followed by the concession of a really clumsy penalty that allowed Moseley to edge in front 3 – 0.  Sean Marsden attempted to spark Bristol into life and made ground on the right before play switched back inside to Jack Adams.  Moseley infringed as they strove to contain the attack and Jarvis had a chance to equalise, but his effort rebounded into play when it struck the upright. 

In the confused follow-up Moseley knocked-on and, from the scrum, Dan Montagu broke away, fed Adams who drove forward and then passed out of the tackle to George Watkins who was able, despite his garish boots, to romp over for the opening try.  Jarvis aim was unerring (if he was aiming at the posts again!) and Bristol led 3 – 5.  Moseley sought to work their way into the Bristol half but struggled to make any real progress.  They suffered at the scrum and once again Adams was released, only to become isolated.  No matter, as Bristol had a penalty.  Sadly, Jarvis was once more off-target.  A brief exchange of views in midfield used up several minutes but accomplished little else than a scrum.  Junior Fatialofa showed his typical directness as he broke forward.  Bristol worked the ball back right but Marsden failed to hold onto the ball.  Bristol kept up the pressure and a long miss pass created space for Adams.  He took the ball on, but when it was shipped back inside Bristol knocked-on. 

The Moseley scrum disintegrated but Bristol were penalised for something untoward and Moseley were off the hook.  Not for long though and a fine chip from Richard Bolt into the hosts’ 22 was well followed up by Watkins who just managed to hold on to the receiver as he attempted to evade the Bristol player.  Moseley were able to get the ball into touch but Bristol attacked off the lineout and Adams looked certain to score but a half tackle saw the ball dislodged from his grasp and it bobbled forward on the line.  With the rain starting to fall were awarded a penalty that Jarvis sent to touch.  The lineout failed to function and Moseley came away with the ball and then a penalty of their own.  Of course Bristol then won Moseley’s lineout and went through several phases, edging ever closer to the try line.  The defence had no legal answer and the yellow card was duly brandished.  Jarvis went for the posts and this time was successful for a 3 – 8 lead.  Bristol were allowed to attack again despite a really obvious knock-on by Ollie Hayes.  Good hands sent the ball right, less good hands saw it struggle back left as the half drifted to a close. 

Bristol started the second half with another poor lineout throw and this allowed Moseley to take the initiative, despite the suspicion of a forward pass.  Bristol gave away a penalty and Moseley narrowed the gap to just two points.  Bristol endeavoured to hit back.  Good clearing out by Jack Tovey saw Bristol get on the front foot.  Fatialofa powered into the heart of the defence and then fed Watkins who was dragged down just short.  Tovey also darted close on the right wing.  The two combined again shortly after and at the breakdown Sigley was rightly yellow carded despite his protestations of innocence.  Bristol wisely chose to take the scrum and Mako Vanipola was driven over in the very corner.  Frankly, I’m not sure it was a try but the referee said the touch judge was clear.  Jarvis was again off-target, but Bristol lead 6 – 13.

Not for long.  Moseley were stung and showed determination and strength as they pressed forward.  The visitors’ defence crumbled in the face of the sudden onslaught and Moseley were over in the corner.  The conversion was well struck to make it 13-all.  Jarvis tried to get Bristol going forward but a 22 drop-out was the only result.  Bristol then gave away ten metres for back-chat following a rather harsh penalty and Moseley made excellent ground with the kick.  Their drive from the lineout was illegally halted and Mark Irish saw yellow. 

At this point I retreated to the safety and comfort of the clubhouse.  The rain has made my notepad stick together so the last quarter of an hour or so is a bit difficult to piece together.  Apparently the Bristol defence was well up to the task of keeping out Moseley and, indeed, forcing them into errors.  Clearly the scrum struggled with a man out but the hosts were unable to take advantage.  In fact neither side looked really capable of fashioning a breakthrough.  Bristol had the chance to snatch a win at the very end with an unlikely drop-goal effort but it went wide.  Sorry about this.