LLANELLI FALL TO BRISTOL

An error-strewn contest saw Bristol do enough to come away with a bonus point victory over Welsh visitors Llanelli.  Building on the confidence-boosting win against Esher, this may stand Bristol in good stead against next week's Welsh visitors.

Bristol showed attacking verve early, eschewing goal kicks, and with Jack Tovey and Anthony Elliott troubling the visitors.  However, they lacked any real penetration and, as the Bristol's scrum wheeled, Llanelli went for the posts but the kick was off-target.

Bristol took advantage of poor Llanelli handling to allow Adrian Jarvis to put in a fine touchfinder to push the visitors back. A penalty followed and again Bristol went for touch, only for the ball to be overthrown. 

George Watkins got Bristol moving forward as the hosts manage a brief passage of coherent play.  Llanelli were penalised and Jarvis continued to go for touch.  Finally the line-out was claimed and the pack struggled to make any real headway.  At last Bristol managed to land a telling blow when Watkins, in off his wing, stepped round a couple of would-be tacklers to score a neat try.  Jarvis converted for a 7-0 lead. 

Bristol failed to build on this as Llanelli worked their way into the Bristol half before clumsily knocking on.  Two penalties in quick succession allowed Jarvis to take his team to within 10 metres of the Llanelli line. The catch and drive went in and this time it was much more purposeful and James Merriman crashed over by the posts for another converted try and deserved 14- 0 lead.  Llanelli tried to strike back but coughed up possession to prevent them from building any momentum.  They regrouped and drove into the heart of the defence moving to within metres of the line before once more surrendering possession.  However, the good defence was spoiled when a penalty went Llanelli's way and this time sailed over to narrow the gap to 14 - 3. 

Jack Tovey got Bristol going forward and his run was well supported.  Ed Barnes jinked up to the Llanelli 22 but he had out-thought his own side and Llanelli were able to claim the ball and halt the move.  Bristol continued to press but the ball was terribly slow and eventually Bristol knocked on as the half drew to a close.

Bristol attacked well early on with a neat interchange between captain Iain Grieve and Jarvis.  Not for the first time Llanelli came offside and Bristol had a penalty right in front of the posts.  Jarvis made no mistake for a 17 - 3 scoreline.  The visitors worked patiently to take play back to Bristol and were rewarded when a poor clearance from Robbie Shaw combined with a non-existent chase allowed Lewis to cross for a converted try bringing the score to 17 -10. 

Llanelli were penalised for failing to retreat at a quickly taken penalty.  Jarvis kicked for touch but sadly Bristol were then penalised for holding on.  A fine attack, started by Roy Winters, saw forwards and backs linking well but poor handling saw possession turned over.  Play continued to be scrappy and inconclusive before Tovey raced into the corner for a fine individual try that was, after some discussion, given.  Jarvis was off-target and Bristol extended their lead to 22 - 10.  Bristol tried to power through with a good catch and drive before a cross-field kick stretched the defence.  Quick ball switched play back across the pitch and Dan Montagu went over for an unconverted try but a 27 - 10 lead. 

Llanelli attempted to have the last word but their handling once more let them down and they were penalised in the scrum.  Despite a massive Junior Fatialofa "tackle", Llanelli broke free and looked to have gone over in the corner but the referee was unsighted.  Llanelli kept up the pressure and they forced Gilbert over beneath the posts for an unconverted try and 27 - 17 with just seconds left.