By Ian Todd
December 1 2014

At half time, in an absorbing contest, it looked as if Bristol's winning start to the season was about to be brought to a close.  Early in the second half it looked even more likely when Pontypridd took a 7 - 26 lead.  And yet, by the close of play, Bristol had scored 24 unanswered points to seize victory from the jaws of defeat. 

Bristol kicked off the game in lovely conditions and were quick to assert pressure on the visitors and were rewarded with an early penalty that Nicky Robinson sent to touch.  The hosts failed to make anything of the opportunity, instead Pontypridd broke clear and the Bristol had to scramble back in defence.  The respite for Ponty was a brief one as they conceded another penalty which again went to touch.  Bristol continued to seek the opening score but the Welsh side defended with great composure and Bristol never really looked like finding a way through.

Instead it was Pontypridd who launched a fine counter attack.  With the Bristol defence creaking fly-half Humberstone fell back into the pocket for a terrible drop-goal attempt, but he knew the referee was playing advantage and he was spot on with the place kick.  Bristol tried to hit back but again were thwarted by good defence and poor handling.  Some of the play was very loose and Bristol came unstuck when Dacey raced away down the left wing before smuggling the ball to Belcher who smashed over for a well converted try.

Bristol were stung into a response and a great break by Andy Short, backed up by Robinson, took play to within five metres of the Ponty line.  Here the visitors gave away a penalty and the decision was to take a scrum.  Pontypridd struggled to handle Bristol’s power and after a couple of resets the referee had no hesitation in marching beneath the posts to award a penalty try.  Robinson’s conversion made the score 7 – 10.

How often do we see Bristol give away cheap points after a score?  Well, it happened again and Humberstone nailed a long-range penalty goal.  The visitors were quick to further extend the lead when Bristol’s efforts to claim the restart simply gave clean ball to Pontypridd and then compounded the error with some poor fringe defence that allowed Jenkins to race in at the corner for an unconverted try.

Bristol were still trying the catch and drive move, and still failing to make anything of it when Pontypridd showed how it should be done when Lockyer, aided by more lacklustre defence, sliced his way over for an unconverted try that left his side 7 – 23 in front at half-time.

It was going to need a mighty effort to overcome the deficit and the initial signs were far from good when Humberstone struck another penalty soon after the restart.  But Bristol responded swiftly with quick handling from a penalty lineout leading to a well worked move and George Watkins speeding over for a converted try.  Was the fight back on?

Yes it was.  Bristol were rapidly back down to the Pontypridd line with a move that was a mirror image of the last only for Watkins to receive a very tricky pass and knock-on.  Still Bristol pressed, still the visitors held-on.  It seemed as though Bristol had pierced the stalwart defence on two occasions but both ‘tries’ were ruled out by the officials.  Finally the defence crumbled when the visitors, continuing to struggle in the scrum, were penalised and replacement Craig Hampson showed great pace and awareness to catch them napping and score a converted try for 21 – 26.

Bristol swept forward from the restart and Jenkins was shown yellow for what may have been a high tackle.  Already on the ascendant, Bristol seized their opportunity as Robinson flung out a huge pass that was gathered in by Watkins who jinked his way over in the right hand corner.  Robinson converted superbly and for the first time in the match Bristol were in front at 28 – 26.

Bristol didn’t relax, drove well from the restart and camped in the Pontypridd 22.  Under incessant pressure the visitors gave away a penalty and Robinson edged Bristol further in front with a well struck kick.  Important points because they meant Pontypridd now had to score more than a penalty to win.  Bravely, that is exactly what they tried to do, but time was against them.  Their effort to run a last gasp penalty resulted in a penalty to Bristol.  There was still time on the clock for a lineout but Bristol took the interesting decision to scrum in order to eat up the time before Hampson booted the ball into touch to seal a stunning turnaround.