Bristol Success in January Sale

By Alty Bris
January 4 2007

A muddy contest produced an old-fashioned scoreline in an old-fashioned ground, with Bristol remaining top of the Guinness Premiership thanks to a sterling defensive effort and an astonishing decision by Larrechea

Troubled by injuries, Sale nonetheless controlled much of the game, particularly in the lineout where Bristol struggled as they have in several recent games. Sale lacked the key to unlock the stubborn defence of Bristol, who thus became just the second team to win at Edgeley Park this season and continue their excellent away form.

Sale demonstrated the greater assurance in difficult playing conditions and enjoyed the territorial advantage in a low-scoring first half. The game commenced with an aimless kicking duel with the initial slight advantage going to Bristol. Indeed kicking appeared to be Sale’s favoured attacking and defensive ploy, but its execution was held back by poor decision-making from fly-half Larrechea, while Bristol again contained the vaunted threat of Jason Robinson.
The defending champions went ahead on 27 minutes when Larrechea slotted a near 30 metre penalty after Bristol went offside at a lineout but his opposite number David Hill cancelled out the advantage just four minutes later when Sale were punished for collapsing the scrum. 3 – 3 with just over half an hour played. Sale, despite continuing territorial domination and the dysfunctional Bristol lineout were unable to fashion any real scoring opportunities for the remainder of the half and Bristol’s sole foray into Sale territory came from a Hill kick to touch.

Sale dominated much of the second half as their pack looked to have a slight edge over their opponents, except at the scrum where Bristol maintained their ascendancy. Bristol certainly appeared to struggle after the loss of flanker Joe El Abd with a leg injury. Fernandez Lobbe was prominent for Sale and a good clean break by Magnus Lund set up the position for a Jason Robinson drop-goal attempt but his kick, apparently coached by Olly Barkley, scarcely got out of the mire that constituted both the pitch and much of the play. Sale were then reduced to 14 men on 55 minutes when hooker Bruno was shown the yellow card for using his elbow on Bristol replacement Matt Salter, but Bristol failed to capitalise. Sale had something of an escape when David Lemi dropped the ball in a promising position created by a forceful run from Alex Clarke. The home side in fact managed to score whilst depleted and went ahead on 66 minutes when Larrechea landed a second penalty to take the score to 6 – 3, but the lead lasted just two minutes as Bristol struck what was to prove the decisive blow.

Jason Robinson was forced to concede a five-metre scrum after Hill’s superbly weighted grubber kick. The scrums were now uncontested, seemingly nullifying the one weapon in Bristol’s armoury that had proved superior on the day. Number eight Dan Ward-Smith had clearly missed school on the day this subject was covered and, straight from the heel, seemingly unaware that he was not ‘allowed’ to do this, went through a yawning chasm in the Sale defence to score. Hill added the conversion to make it 10 – 6. Larrechea was, before long, off target for the first time with a relatively easy penalty chance on 70 minutes and Hill punished Sale with another excellent kick to take play right back into the opposition half. With the rain now tipping down it looked to be poised for a frantic conclusion to the game.

And so it was to prove, as Sale launched a trenchant onslaught in which the Bristol barrier was struck time and again but, with the countdown clock against them, they were unable to breach the staunch defence. A kick through from Sale, with the clock on zero, was fielded by Lee Robinson. Perhaps stung by criticism on this site and surely unaware of the time, he clung on to the ball rather than kicking it dead. Inevitably he gave away a penalty and Sale had one final chance to score what would be the match-winning try. As they struggled to force a way through the desperate defence, Bristol gave away a succession of penalties and saw Mark Regan sin-binned for the second game in succession. Surely a penalty try was on the cards? At last Sale worked the ball into space with a two man overlap and the try line seemingly at their mercy; Larrechea bizarrely chose to kick the ball dead and bring the game to a shuddering halt.

So, Bristol start the New Year still atop the Guinness Premiership and leave the champions of last season a long way adrift. It was far from a classic encounter but enthralling in its own way. The score and style were reminiscent of an earlier era of English rugby. Bristol know that they can perform better, but also that they are now a team capable of closing out games that, in the past, they would have contrived to lose.