Bristol
"BUNCH OF KIDS BEAT MULTI-MILLIONAIRES"
By Ian Todd
February 2 2015
The comment from a Pirates supporter leaving the ground may have overstated the disparity in both age and financial rewards between the two sides, but it illustrated how this defeat will be perceived by many. Despite outscoring the hosts six tries to five Bristol looked a long way from legitimate aspirants to Premiership status. There were way too many handling errors, too many penalties, the defence looked porous and the attack lacked invention, incision and cohesion. Despite which Bristol still managed six tries. But still lost and deserved to do so
Bristol kicked off the game in cold, blustery but otherwise good conditions. The pitch looked entirely adequate (although the changing rooms are poor and the drains backed up in the lavatories). None of which accounts for what we witnessed out on the pitch.
An early break for an injury to Jack Wallace slightly muted the opening exchanges but Pirates started the stronger and were awarded a penalty at the scrum which was despatched to halfway. The hosts pressed but the defence held firm, regained possession and scuffed a clearing kick to touch. Pirates kept up the pressure and edged closer to the Bristol line. The referees hand went out for advantage and the ball was whipped back for Evans to strike a drop goal.
Bristol surged back into the Pirates’ half with a fine run from Marco Mama only for the referee to rule that his attempted offload, which struck a Pirate, had gone forward. Bristol were again penalised at the scrum but loose play from Pirates handed possession to Bristol. A great run from Mitch Eadie took Bristol into the 22 before the ball was swung back infield and Pirates gave away a penalty. Apparently this was one of those games when we went for touch rather than points. But it was a good drive from the pack following the lineout. A penalty went to Bristol but the referee again played advantage as the forwards trundled on and Pirates gave away a really dull penalty with a player slipping round the side of the maul and then tugging at the ball carrier right in front of the referee. Surprisingly he elected to award a penalty try rather than a yellow card but the conversion took Bristol in front at 3 – 7.
I think I must write this at least once in every single game but following this hard work Bristol gave away a soft penalty. Pirates too went for touch and their rolling maul virtually sprinted over the line between the posts. Pirates looked to capitalise on this but a good steal of the ball by Ollie Robinson gave Bristol possession and the ball was whisked out to David Lemi who sprinted down the left wing. He was caught for an instant and looked inside for support but his strength saw him break the tackle and he raced clear for a fine converted try.
Bristol were looking sharp and another break from Eadie took play into the hosts’ 22. Eadie fed the supporting Jack Tovey who galloped over to touch down in left-hand corner. Matthew Morgan converted well for a 10 – 21 lead. Bristol swept forward again and a lovely inside ball from Morgan allowed Tovey to smash forward only for his attempted offload to be claimed by a Pirate. Bristol kept up the pressure but an attempted lineout drive made little ground and Dwayne Peel’s effort to go forward ended up with him running cross field and flinging out a poor pass that went loose and was hacked back into the Bristol half. All the defence could do was kick the ball into touch to give Pirates an excellent attacking lineout chance. A chance they seized when Atkinson was driven over for a well converted try.
The hosts appeared rejuvenated when a superbly judged crossfield kick was claimed by Holland who wove his in the corner to take the score to 22 -21 with the end of the half looming. There was still time for Pirates to concede a penalty. Rather surprisingly Bristol still went for touch when it certainly looked a relatively straightforward kick at goal. As Bristol drove from the resulting lineout Pirated were penalised again and Morgan kicked for touch five metres out. This time Bristol attempted to move the ball wide but Lemi lost the ball forward to bring the first half action to a close.
As so often this season Bristol trailed going in to the second period. Pirates came out fired up and Bristol seemed strangely lethargic. Pirates initial effort came to nothing when a driving maul was penalised for accidental offside. Bristol made a mess of the lineout that resulted and Pirates kicked long for territory. The defence scrambled back but the penalty for holding on was almost inevitable. Quickly taken, Holland burst clear down the left wing for a converted try. A try that was swiftly followed by another when shocking defence (if you are going to miss a first-up tackle then perhaps wearing a bright blue scrum cap isn’t the best idea) allowed Pirates to hammer their way down to the right hand corner before desperate defence just about halted the move. For an instant only, as Darren Barry wriggled through the pileup for a try. The well struck conversion took Pirates into an ominous 36 – 21 lead.
Bristol tried to regroup and the scrum suddenly appeared utterly dominant; pushing the Pirates off their own ball on two occasions and winning a penalty. Again, this was sent to touch. Once more the catch and drive move went in and once again Bristol rattled their way over with Eadie claiming the bonus point try, to oddly muted celebrations. Bristol seemed to lack any urgency or coherence at this point; huffed and puffed but handled poorly and gave away silly penalties. One of which was on the half way line, but the distance was no problem for Hallet who edged his side further in front. Bristol at last strung something together and Tovey made some good ground through the heart of the defence. Bristol pressed hard and, with the scrum ascendant and rumbling towards the line, the referee again trotted beneath the posts for a penalty try.
Having worked hard to get back into losing bonus point range guess what Bristol did. Yes indeed. It may have been a long range penalty but Hallet had already shown he could bang them over from virtually that spot and this he duly did. And then another. An object lesson in how to take opportunities, or possibly in how to throw them away. There was still time for Tovey to carve his way over in the right hand corner for an unconverted try that did give Bristol a losing bonus point but it was scant consolation in a performance that showed up all sorts of frailties and a few individual bright sparks.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015:02:23:08:52:29 by SenorJuan.
More relevant / concerning is we have;
- a wealthy owner prepared to spend his money
- a ground which will become one of the best rugby venues in the UK
- a coaching team who supposedly are very experienced
- a loyal and fairly large fan base
- players who allegedly are of premiership standard.
Together this should represent a powerful mix. So based on recent performances something must be wrong. If players / coaches can't get motivated in our current environment then why are they here?
SL needs a serious conversation with AR to find out what is wrong as in our present position Championship rugby beckons for a further season.
02/02/2015 12:08
02/02/2015 12:11
The spine of any team is 2, 8, 9 & 10. We have recruited well recently at hooker, are served well at 8 which brings me on to scrum half/fly half.
I would like to see a young dynamic scrum half who can get to the breakdown quickly. Ben Spencer is currently understudy to both Neil deKock and Richard Wigglesworth at Saracens but is learning his trade well as captain of the A team, and leads by example and skill. (He is also an excellent place kicker)
As has been posted elsewhere, MM seems happier at full-back so I need help in identifying a fly half.
I have always been worried by our defence and certainly mention of Brad Barritt (also Saracens) would seem to be the perfect answer to marshalling that area.
02/02/2015 13:01
02/02/2015 19:38
I don't think ARs comments about the state of the pitch and the facilities did us any favours at all! To me it just served to wind Cornish up, gave them something to fight for and a point to prove and boy they proved it . They made Bristol look like a bunch of over paid snobs who shouldn't be expected to play rugby on what after all is a normal playing surface at this time of year.
We may have a near perfect pitch at the gate but this is rugby not football! The ball should be in hand not on the grass. The team need to adapt to the facilities and conditions on offer at other clubs less fortunate than us. Embrace it . Enjoy it the fans certainly do.
Every time I see another big name sign I expect to see an improvement on the field. But I am just not seeing it. Where's the pace? the skill? Distribution, passing, where's the creativity & the flair? The pride and passion ?? I want to see a Bristol team with fire in their bellies, players who wear the shirt with pride with a will to win and win well. A team that not only scores well but defends well too . I'm not going to name names I'll leave that to those more knowledgable than I. We have to play Worcester in the league, the B&I cup final (if we get that far) and at some point in the Prayoffs (again if we get that far) think we will be as sick of them as they will be of us by the end of it all.
One loss and everyone goes berserk.....
Quote:Pathfinder
You sound as if you're describing Plymouth Albion. Look at the League table and the Cup semis. We've played 20 and won 19. Exactly the same as Worcester.
One loss and everyone goes berserk.....
Yes. On the face of it, there's been one loss.
But this wasn't just any old loss.
This was a Marks & Spencers loss.
Shipping 45 points to a mid championship club is simply unacceptable for a team wanting to be a top four Premiership club
On the back of several near misses and weeks of less than good (or even solid) performances.
We've had weeks of having to win games from being down at half time. And just the other day, dead and buried with ten minutes to go.
"Berserk"?
Really? Berserk?
No.
We're just very concerned (as is completely understandable) that based on our recent performances as WELL as this one defeat, strange squad rotation, seeming inability to defend with any solidity at all and a number of sour-faced post-match interviews by Andy Robinson, that we are NOT where we should be right now with the aim to win the pray-offs come the spring.
We're not even close.
Varndell? Henson?
That's all just fine and dandy of course and may see us hit the ground running if we return to the Prem next year.
But please.... lets concentrate on this year Bris AS WELL as having just one eye on next.
Nothing berserk about that.
The contrary in fact.
Quote:tbrQuote:Pathfinder
You sound as if you're describing Plymouth Albion. Look at the League table and the Cup semis. We've played 20 and won 19. Exactly the same as Worcester.
One loss and everyone goes berserk.....
Yes. On the face of it, there's been one loss.
But this wasn't just any old loss.
This was a Marks & Spencers loss.
Shipping 45 points to a mid championship club is simply unacceptable for a team wanting to be a top four Premiership club
On the back of several near misses and weeks of less than good (or even solid) performances.
We've had weeks of having to win games from being down at half time. And just the other day, dead and buried with ten minutes to go.
"Berserk"?
Really? Berserk?
No.
We're just very concerned (as is completely understandable) that based on our recent performances as WELL as this one defeat, strange squad rotation, seeming inability to defend with any solidity at all and a number of sour-faced post-match interviews by Andy Robinson, that we are NOT where we should be right now with the aim to win the pray-offs come the spring.
We're not even close.
Varndell? Henson?
That's all just fine and dandy of course and may see us hit the ground running if we return to the Prem next year.
But please.... lets concentrate on this year Bris AS WELL as having just one eye on next.
Nothing berserk about that.
The contrary in fact.
That all said.... IF we manage to beat Scottish (seems probable at this stage that we'll meet them in the SF) AND then Wuss in the final (who ARE looking like they should go back up at this stage)... well then (and only then) I'll go berserk. Completely berserk with joy.
03/02/2015 08:17
But either way I'm backing Bristol!!!
