RAMPANT ROTHERHAM BLAST BRIS

Bristol crashed to defeat againt Rotherham, failing to score any tries or, indeed, any points at all in the second half.  Bristol failed to get going at all and gave away posession far too often and easily against a team that pounced on errors and came away with points

A terrible performance from Bristol saw Rotherham score four tries whilst the visitors scarcely threatened.  Last week Bristol went behind early but managed to stay in touch, but there was no repeat performance as Bristol were totally dominated by a well-drilled and confident team.

In what seems to be a theme for Bristol, early points were conceded with Law taking the points on offer with a straightforward penalty kick.  Matty James equalized a few minutes later and then the fly-halves traded penalties with the hosts emerging 9 – 6 up with a quarter of an hour gone.

And that was it from Bristol.  Law extended his side’s lead with another penalty and then came Bristol’s only real chance of the game.  Iain Grieve charged down a kick and Rotherham knocked-on to give Bristol a succession of attacking and penalised scrums.  Perhaps surprisingly there was no penalty try with forwards popping up virtually every time but finally the referee penalised Bristol and the hosts were off the hook.

Another Rotherham penalty moved the hosts further in front before Nonu scored the first try of the game touching down in the last action of the half.  Law converted to make it 22 – 6 at the close.

Bristol had a penalty chance at the start of the second half but James was well off-target.  Instead it was Rotherham who scored the next points with another Law penalty as Bristol struggled to find a way through solid defence and eventually went off their feet at the ruck.  Bristol made a number of replacements in a forlorn attempt to spark into life but, as so often, wholesale changes simply disorganised an already ragged team further.  Symptomatic was the try from Copeland who sprinted in from way out without a hand being laid on him.  It went unconverted but still it was 30- 6 with plenty of time left.  Further woe ensued as Monahan pounced on clumsy Bristol play to score out wide for a converted try. 

Rotherham were thoroughly on top now and going for the bonus point try.  Roy Winters was shown yellow for preventing release of the ball as the hosts bore down on the try line.  At least he was still competing.  Inevitably, the Bristol collapse was completed soon after when Monahan scored another converted try just before the end leaving Bristol on the wrong end of a 44 – 6 scoreline.