By Ian Todd
March 22 2013

Bristol crashed to a disappointing narrow defeat to Nottingham. Sloppy restarts and poor kicking gave Notts all the ball they needed to efficiently close out the game. A fortuitous try for Watkins gave Bristol some hope after Notts claimed the lead but it was too late in the game for Bristol to recover the situation. Still better than 63 - 7, eh?

An astonishingly warm evening for early March (and not the trace of a breeze, important given some of the play), saw a typically frantic and nervy start from both sides as they tried to achieve early dominance. Bristol had the better of things with some good moves that put pressure on the Nottingham defence. Late injury call-up Tristan Roberts was well off target with his first penalty effort. Just a little while laater he had the chance to atone and his effort scraped the inside of the uptight for a vital 3 – 0 lead.

Notts gradually worked themselves back into the game assisted by Bristol’s indiscipline. As they came within kicking range of the posts a succession of penalties went , boldly, to touch, the chance of penalty points eschewed for the chance of a try. Clearly the total inability of Bristol to defend the catch and drive at the last game was a factor in their thinking. Initially their confidence proved mistaken as Bristol defended the lineouts well. Eventually the tactic was rewarded after two good drives when they drove Wilson over the line, with more than a hint of truck-and-trailer it must be said. Arlidge converted and it was 3 – 7.

Roberts was successful with a second penalty effort shortly after as Notts gave away a soft penalty that undid much of their earlier hard work. Bristol looked rejuvenated and managed some consistent pressure on the visitors, Fautua Otto put in a couple of his trademark bursts, once he gets past the first tackle his acceleration is deadly. His second break saw him into space but his pass out to the normally reliable Luke Eves was knocked on just metres out.

Bristol were undaunted and continued to hammer away at Notts keeping them pressed well back in their half. Good work from the pack secured possession and, with a penalty coming, Ruki Tipuna scooped a low drop-goal over the bar and Bristol were back in front at 9 – 7.

The second period started in a more structured way than the first and with Notts having the better of things early on. Bristol maintained a resolute defence and the visitors could find no way through. Instead it was the hosts who had the opportunity to score with a fairly straightforward penalty that Roberts scuffed well off target. Fortunately his next effort was right in front of the posts and over it went.

And what happened next? Bristol had worked hard to extend their lead…Yes, you guessed it they gave away cheap points. In disastrous fashion too. The restart was not claimed (a feature of the evenings play) cleanly. Duffey popped up on the wing and burst through a powder-puff tackle to feed Wilson for his second try. Arlidge kicked the tricky conversion and Notts were 12 – 14 in front without having to do any work for the points.

Bristol might have reclaimed the lead but Roberts’ penalty effort was hopelessly miscued. Arlidge showed how it should be done as Notts stretched ahead at 12 – 17. The game at this point degenerated into a kicking fest, with first one side then the other briefly gaining a few metres before kicking away again. It was an unedifying spectacle and Bristol’s ineffective kick-chase game again reaped its due reward (ie nothing). Arlidge struck again as Jack Tovey was rather harshly penalised for an obstruction as Notts chipped ahead and Bristol looked out of the game.

It was Bristol’s turn to hit back quickly. Notts play broke down in the middle of the pitch and George Watkins, coming into midfield, cutting across the face of the defence, struck. He curved into space and chipped ahead. The bounce was deeply unhelpful, in that there wasn’t one. No matter as he (too) powerfully hacked the ball downfield. The last defender just managed to stay in front as both chased the errant ball down. Then it struck the padding of the posts. The defender tried to touch down as the snitch, sorry, ball went loose but just lost it forward. Watkins swooped and touched down, according to the referee. I have to say that from my angle the ball looked as if it was on or over the dead ball line. Perhaps we were a bit fortunate. The conversion made it 19 – 20.

Bristol pushed for the score that would take them to the win and some patient play moved them into the Notts half. Sadly the patience snapped and a kick ahead gave the ball away. Notts moved forward and were rewarded with another penalty that mysteriously took so long to take what with injuries and so forth that the clock was showing 80 before the decision to kick was even indicated. Over it went and the final score stood at 19 -23.