Shoguns off to perfect start

try scorer
By David Hibell
September 8 2003

Bristol got their season off to the perfect start with five points from the match in which Penzance & Newlyn conceded their largest ever losing margin in the league, scoring four converted tries and two penalties to one converted try.

The Pirates bought a sizeable following to their first game at this level, and they had the first chance for points as early as the second minute after turning over possession and moving the ball up field where Bristol were penalised for using hands on the floor, however the penalty attempt was pushed right.

The ball was kicked long from the restart with Bristol up in defence very quickly turning over the ball, which was worked up to the half way line where it was Bristol’s turn to have a shot at goal. Malone making no mistake from the half way to give Bristol a lead they were not to relinquish.

James Bailey showed he was up for the game coming off his wing and attacking up the right flank making the first of many breaks that were to cause Thirlby problems all game. Sustained pressure from this break saw a penalty conceded deep in the Pirates 22 to the left of the posts, Dodge took a quick tap where he was stopped short but the referee played a good advantage and the forwards managed to get the ball down on the right, RMR coming up with the ball to claim a try on his first start at the Mem. Malone made no mistake slotting the conversion and 12 minutes in Bristol were 10-0 up.

The game was a bit scrappy with neither team able to establish a decent platform or shape on the game for the next twenty minutes until a wonderful solo try from James Bailey on the half hour cut the Pirates defence pen, receiving the ball 60 yards out on the left wing with 5 yards of space Bails beat his man on the outside, stood Thirlby up on the twenty two and turning infield had enough strength to touch the ball over the line in the tackle, Malone again adding the two points.

Bristol’s tactics of spreading the ball wide seemed to work well as Bails had another chance on 40 minutes, ending up with an attempted drop goal, but the last score of the half came from Sean Beanie Marsden from a set piece. Two passes from the scrum and Beanie was able to break the tackle and go over on the right, Malone, who did not miss a kick at goal all game that I can recall again adding the conversion. Half time and Bristol looked home and dry 24-0.

Bristol made a few changes early in the second half, Owen Evans moving from outside centre, having been called up shortly before the game, to the right wing to replace Mike Griffiths and Joe El Abd being replaced by Ben Jerry. He seemed to injure his knee badly in the first half but kept playing on, after the game he confirmed it was nothing too serious.

After another three points to Chris Malone on 7 minutes Bristol secured the bonus point for four tries on 17 minutes after clean ball from the line out was moved left & Beanie continued his rich vein of form in try scoring on the left wing.

In the first half the Pirates seemed to waste the promising field positions they had, each time taking the ball standing still or knocking on, but the second half the game was played mostly in their half, their try coming from a great break by Morgs up the right wing, looking to keep the move going he passed back inside to an opposition player who fed it left, Thirlby was stopped when he seemed to have the line at his mercy but managed to offload to the Pirates leading try scorer of last year, Olonga, with the fly half adding the conversion.

The restart was kicked out on the full, but the scrum was disrupted & the ball hacked on where Olonga fielded it and kicked the ball deep straight to Beanie, he passed inside for Hobbo to take it on who was stopped

On the half hour Hilts was replaced by Clarke, Bristol really started to dominate the lineouts taking three in succession on the Pirates throw. The pressure was telling as one of the Pirates props was sin binned on 33 minutes and thereafter followed a spate of five yard scrums with the Pirates holding out successfully as the Shoguns found it hard to breach the line again. The ball was eventually kicked for touch by the Pirates who missed touch again; Bails fed Beanie who chipped through for Saul Nelson to chase forcing the covering defender to hack the ball into touch! Bristol knocked on from the line out however giving a Pirates scrum.

The Pirates backs were now playing better with the ball in hand and had a last chance but were penalis3ed for holding on, the ball was kicked deep into the Pirates 22, the line out won the ball was moved right and the forwards were again held up over the line. Unfortunately Bristol knocked on from the base of the scrum and that was the final chance. Final score 34-7 and a satisfactory start, though you can expect a different score in the return leg.