BRISTOL BEE-WITCHED IN HALLOWEEN HORROR

For the neutral this topsy-turvy  match may well have been entertaining fare.  For the long-suffering Bristol supporters it truly was a horror show.  Bristol slipped to a last second defeat against a side that escaped relegation last season only in the farcical play-offs, managing only a draw in the regular season and finishing on -9 points.  The result took the gloss off a performance that actually had many positives, but the mood as people left the ground was sombre

Early play was dominated by the visiting team as they displayed patience, gradually pushing Bristol back.  Eventually Bristol infringed to give former Bristol player Woodrow, now in his third spell with Bees, a straightforward penalty that he dispatched with ease for a 0 - 3 lead.  Bristol looked to hit back quickly, but loose passing prevented any real breakthrough and Bees were easily able to clear to touch.  A sudden dart by Ollie Hayes got Bristol moving forward but the support was lacking.  An excellent break from Binham opened up the home defence but frantic efforts just managed to hound him down. 

However, Bristol had given away another penalty that Woodrow gratefully accepted to ease his team six points in front.  Bristol tried to regroup from these blows and Iain Grieve latched on to a loose kick and fed Richard Bolt who managed to squeeze the Ball out to Anthony Elliott who brought the crowd to its feet before passing to jack Gadd who lanced into space and forced Bees to infringe in their efforts to halt him.  Adrian Jarvis was spot on as he halved the deficit. 

The restart went straight into touch to give Bristol the scrum on the centre spot.  With both wingers out right it seemed as if a prepared move was on the cards but the attack was laboured before Dan Norton managed to dance his way forward.  The support came in and Bees were penalised in front of the posts to allow Jarvis to equalise.  The consequent restart was somewhat better for Bees, with a knock-on from Jack Tovey handing them good field position.  Woodrow sent a teasing kick into the left corner that just eluded the winger, although Elliott did end up over the hoardings.  The visitors continued to press with Grove looking dangerous on the ball.  Bristol were again penalised to let Woodrow move Bees into a 6 - 9 lead. 

Tovey, retaining his confidence despite his earlier error, took a high ball and showed good strength to drive forward in the tackle.  The defence managed to clear to touch but Elliot took a quick lineout, sending the ball to a surprised Tovey.  It looked for an instant that this was the wrong option but Tovey managed to control the ball and get moving.  Elliott backed him up before passing on to Norton who displayed strength as well as pace to cross the line for a converted try and a 13 - 9 lead; rather against the run of play. 

This score seemed to revitalise Bristol and Tovey, Norton and Elliott combined again to take the game to Bees.  Unfortunately, a turnover threatened a breakaway, but fierce tackling halted any danger and forced Bees into giving away a penalty that Jarvis sweetly kicked to extend the lead to 16 - 9.  Hayes went off on an enterprising run from the restart but his team-mates were not on the same wavelength and Bristol failed to capitalise.  This saw Bees back on the front foot and they took full advantage when what the crowd felt was a forward pass set Hunt free to crash over out wide on the right.  The conversion equalised the score. 

With the half drawing to a close, good handling from Bristol cut a way into the heart of the defence and was rewarded with a penalty that Jarvis sent to touch.  The catch-and-drive went in edging up to the line but not quite over.  Another penalty went Bristol's way but with insufficient time left for th lineout Jarvis had to go for the posts.  He made light work of the difficult kick and Bristol went into the second half leading 19 - 16. 

A fine break from Jamie Miller got Bristol going in the second half.  Quick support was lacking but Jack Adams and Hayes made sure that Bristol stayed on the offensive.  A knock-on permitted the visitors to clear the immediate threat and a poor lineout from Bristol allowed them to keep Bristol under pressure and an astute kick from Woodrow saw the ball touched down by Bentall.  The try was given after some discussion.  The conversion attempt was missed but Bees led 19 - 21.

Bristol endeavoured to up the tempo and harass Bees into errors but indiscipline cost them territory.  A break by Brake pushed Bristol right back to their 22 before a penalty let Bristol clear to halfway.  With great determination Bristol held onto possession and forced the visiting team back.  The ball was switched left and opened up space.  There were so many Bristol players that they almost got in each others way.  Tovey just managed to control the ball and it was popped up to James Merriman who cut a lovely curving line to power over for a converted try and a Bristol lead of 26 - 21. 

Bristol looked menacing going forward but vulnerable to a swift counterattack.  Bees showed first-rate handling to advance threateningly when Bristol lost possession, but the defence was just able to cling on.  A penalty saw Jarvis clear the danger and Adams the then crashed onto a flat pass but was bravely tackled to the ground.  jarvis then darted close but the ball was ripped from his hands and another quick counter saw Bristol pushed back into their own half.  An ominous attack developed out left with the Bristol defence looking ragged.  They infringed to give away a penalty that was sent to touch.  Bees drove from the lineout and the try was almost routine for Duggard.  The conversion took the score to 26 - 28. 

Bristol were stung into action and launched a formidable attack with replacement  Mako Vunipola urged on by the Bristol support as he crashed into the defenders.  Bristol surged on but were unable to break the final tackle.  A five metre scrum to Bristol was the reward, however.  Bees had no legal answer to the fantastic shove and as the scrum splintered and stood up the referee trotted between the posts to award a penalty try.   Jarvis duly converted to take Bristol back in front at 33 - 28.  All Bristol had to do was hold on for the final few minutes but a harsh penalty gave Bees the hope of a comeback.  It was sent to touch but the drive from the lineout was held up by stalwart defence.  Brutal hits forced a knock-on, to the huge relief of the Bristol crowd.  Jarvis then managed a conservative kick to touch and Bristol seemed home and dry when they claimed the lineout but this time Jarvis' kick went straight into touch and it handed Bees another lineout on the 22. 

The ball was swept out left, but, as the defence moved up, a superbly weighted crossfield kick was claimed by Sanderson who plunged to the ground for the equalising try.  The cruelty of this blow was compounded when a nerveless Woodrow made a splendid kick from out wide to give his team a stunning 33 - 35 victory.