Brave late effort not enough in Leinster loss

1st Bristol try
By Duncan Wood & John Matthews
October 12 2002

Bristol came up just just short against a determined Leinster side on a cold and wet Dublin night. A little more self belief could well have resulted in a win for the Shoguns.

Bristol's plans would have been disrupted by the late withdrawal of Peter Richards meaning that the bench had to be packed with forwards.

Bristol started in determined fashion and more than held their own for the first 25 minutes. The longer it remained close, the brighter Bristol's prospects looked.

The turning point was the yellow card for Alex Brown. Although the team didn't concede a try in his absence, the Leinster forwards were able to gain some momentum and seize the initiative.

This impetus saw them execute a fine rolling maul which gained them a good 30 metres from which they spread the ball wide at pace and Denis Hickie finished a well worked try in the corner.

Bristol were back on their heels at this point and another penalty soon followed to stretch the lead to 19-6. Only spirited defending near the Bristol kept this as the half time score.

Bristol started the 2nd half in determined fashion and their efforts were rewarded with an early Felipe Contepomi penalty.

However, all the good work was undone from the restart. Ben Sturnham took the kickoff deep in his own 22 and ran into contact.

At the ruck, the ball somehow emerged on the Leinster side and gave a bullocking Victor Costello the chance to stampede his way over Agustin Pichot on his way to the line.

Things looked ominous at 26-9 but the Shoguns launched a spirited comeback as they introduced the likes of Paul Johnstone and Andrew Higgins to the action.

Bristol camped in the Leinster half and, for the first time in the game, maintained several phases of possession.

Daryl Gibson, who had his finest game for Bristol yet, finished off a well worked team try when he jinked past his markers and stretched over the line.

Bristol weren't finished and Felipe strolled under the posts two minutes from time for another converted score to narrow the gap to 29-23 although the backs needed a few attempts to finish the move off.

All this was achieved with Paul Johnstone in the sin bin and, despite his return, the Shoguns couldn't get the ball back to go for the winning score.

Bristol probably lacked a bit of self belief and only realised Leinster were there for the taking with about 20 minutes to go.

We struggled a little in the tight although the defence was committed. Organisation at kick off returns was a bit muddled and we missed touch too often for comfort.

On the plus side, Daryl Gibson played the conditions perfectly and Agustin Pichot kept the tempo of his game admirably.

The Bristol supporters made themselves heard above a strangely subdued Donnybrook crowd. It certainly wasn't the cauldron expected.

The talk after the game was about the referee (a late stand in) and several controversial decisions that went against Bristol.

Marks out of 10
Donnybrook Stadium - 5
Atmosphere - 4
Bristol fans - 10
Bristol forwards - 6
Bristol backs - 7
Leinster forwards - 8
Leinster backs - 7
Guinness - 11!