By Ian Todd
October 6 2014

And after the scale of their loss, probably won't want to see us back again either!  It was a big win against a side that has frequently caused Bristol problems and Bristol had no real difficulty in achieving the victory.  Unlike many I found it a curiously unsatisfactory performance.  The first half saw a bonus point, but only after failing to score for half an hour.  More tries were scored and, despite two tries against, there wasn't the remotest chance of a repeat of last season's fixture.  I just don't believe that the coaches will be satisfied with that level of performance.  It simply lacked real intensity.  How surprising to leave a game having won by that margin and yet to feel oddly disappointed.  Pleased to win, pleased to pick up the bonus, but also to know that Bristol could have achieved more.

It was a bright and beautiful if typically windy afternoon at Billesley Common as Bristol kicked off.  Sadly the start wasn’t quite so bright or beautiful with the kick failing to make ten metres.  Indeed, for much of the opening quarter Bristol looked very bright but failed to make an impression on the scoreboard.  It wasn’t until half an hour was up that the visitors managed to find a way though with Ross Johnstone touching down after some good work from the rest of the forwards.

Matthew Morgan converted the try and showed the skills that made him Greene King IPA Player of the Month with a lovely, superbly balanced, run to the line from distance.  The third try was soon on the board with Jack Lam and Johnstone linking well to send the hooker over for his second.  The bonus point try was quick to follow with an excellent effort from David Lemi that made it 0 – 28 at half time.  Of course last season Bristol had a similarly imposing lead at half time and a Moseley fight back ultimately made the score too close for comfort.  Would a similar recovery be on the cards?

No, actually it clearly wasn’t when the referee awarded a penalty try soon after the break; swiftly followed by one from Ryan Edwards.  The conversion made it 0 - 42.  It wasn’t quite the answer to life, the universe and everything but it certainly meant Moseley weren’t going to find a way back into this game.

In fact the hosts did score a converted try soon afterwards as Bristol defended very sloppily.  A score that was swiftly negated when the Moseley defence went collectively absent to let Ben Mosses in out wide.  Moseley made the most of more poor defending with another converted try.  Bristol responded with a well worked effort finished off by Max Crumpton and Auguy Slowik raced in for the concluding try.  The match petered out with a number of late injury replacements and a yellow card for Crumpton as Bristol demonstrated surprising defensive commitment at such a late stage in the game and the score at 14 – 59.