WORCESTER MAKE IT TOO HOT FOR BRIS

In a game marred by multiple yellow cards and a red for Bristol captain Iain Grieve, table-topping Worcester were too strong for Bristol.  Six tries to two tell their own story but the final score is a reflection of the work Bristol had to do against a strong side with a numerical advantage

A beautiful early spring afternoon saw a rather less beautiful kick-off from Worcester's Goode that  failed to make ten metres.  Bristol attacked from the resulting scrum and pushed Worcester back with good interlinking play.  The hosts went through many phases but without finding a way through a defence that was to prove the crucial difference between the sides.  Ed Barnes attempted to escape the stranglehold but his attempted chip kick was easily charged down and , as Worcester swept forward only a forward pass prevented a certain try.  Bristol were penalised almost immediately after and Goode made no mistake this time for a 0 - 3 lead. 

Bristol tried to get moving after this setback, Anthony Elliott made a half break, the forwards stealing a Worcester lineout throw, but hard won ball was kicked away.  In contrast Worcester attacked at great pace with the ball in hand and only fine tackles from Jack Tovey and prevented a try.  The pressure told and Goode sent over another penalty to double the lead.  A kicking duel followed with Goode emerging the winner, finding an excellent touch in the Bristol 22.  Fortunately, the throw in was not straight.  Worcester continued to work the defence but a lack of discipline saw them penalised and give Bristol a respite. 

Junior Fatialofa, deservedly the Bristol man-of-the-match, made a good break from a shocking Richard Bolt pass and Bristol managed to get into the Worcester half.  James Merriman took things on and Worcester gave away a really foolish penalty to allow Barnes to get Bristol's first points on the board: 3 - 6.  Tovey was flattened a he took the restart and Worcester took play up to the five metre line and then the ball went out to Benjamin went over out left for a well converted try and a 3 - 13 lead. Bristol tried to hit back with Barnes popping the ball to Jack Adams at pace and Captain Iain Grieve taking the ball on.  The defence remained firm and Elliott resorted to kicking, only for his poor effort to be charged down and the ball claimed by Benjamin to race in for a half-time lead of 3 - 20. 

Bristol started well with a nice break from Tovey, once again showing surprising strength.  The ball was swept back across the field and Fatialofa and Adams ran strongly at the opposition.  Worcester were penalised but the resulting lineout move was botched.  Bristol continued to press and Fatialofa again took the ball on powerfully.  He was prominent in another move shortly after as he darted over the five metre line with the forwards then taking over.  Worcester were penalised.  Bolt had the ball and eventually became aware of Fatialofa desperately calling for the ball.  He chose to take the tap penalty, passing on to Fatialofa who went close before the pack piled in to drive Mariano Sambucetti over for a converted try, taking the score to 10 - 20.

 Worcester were stung and Crockett made good ground before the ball was lost forward.  At this point a general free-for-all burst into life and  continued for quite a while despite much whistle-blowing and flag-waving.  When order was finally restored the referee (over)reacted by brandishing a yellow card to Bristol and two to Worcester.  More surprising was the straight red card to Grieve, presumably for punching Goode for attempting to crush him.  Another yellow card for Bristol soon followed and Bristol were reduced for a time to a ridiculous complement of 12.It was inevitable that Worcester would make this numerical advantage tell and Garvey obliged out on the right wing with an unconverted try and a 10 - 25 scoreline with a long time to go in the match. 

Creditably Bristol still attempted to take the game to Worcester and replacement Jason Hobson, Fatialofa and George Watkins all kept the visitors' defence working hard.  The advantage in numbers, however, meant that there were was no real space to exploit.  Overstretched in attack, Bristol left themselves vulnerable on the counter and Worcester ruthlessly cut Bristol open when Benjamin sprinted into a huge space to touch down by the posts for an unconverted try, but a commanding 10 - 30 lead. 

Worcester now looked utterly confident and slick handling looked likely to fashion yet another try when suddenly an overly casual pass was intercepted by replacement Mark Davies.  He did not have quite enough pace to make it all the way but he had support in the form of Watkins who was able race in untouched for an unconverted try and a score of 15 - 30.   Sadly it was something of a last hurrah for the gallant Bristol effort.  Worcester claimed an interception of their own with Douglas scoring a converted try and then, to cap things off, Carlisle danced through a tired looking defence to score and then convert for a final scoreline of 15 - 44.