What happened to Bristol Shoguns in 2002?

Player of the year?
By Duncan Wood
December 31 2002

2002 was definitely not a dull calendar year for the Bristol Shoguns. Felipe Contepomi enjoyed an inspired May/ June as he inspired playoff wins over Leicester and Northampton amongst other superb displays.

To say 2002 was a roller coaster year for the Bristol Shoguns would be putting it mildly. It's certainly never dull being a Shoguns supporter!

January

This was always going to be a really crucial month for Bristol, certainly in terms of European rugby and the New Year all kicked off in the less than glamorous surroundings of the Gnoll at Neath.

Amongst the wind, rain and gloom of West Wales we slumped to a narrow defeat and, with the Men in Black heading for Viadana the following week, European qualification looked unlikely.

However, the Italians did us a massive favour and pulled off an unlikely win whilst we crushed Bourgoin at home with Phil Christophers starring at fullback and try machine Garath Archer scoring two tries.

So, up to Sale on a cold January evening when the realities of Friday night rugby really hit home. A few, hardy Bristol souls made the trek up north and watched the team put in a gallant effort, leading midway through the 2nd half and only going down to a late penalty.

However, January drew to a close with us all facing the grim reality that we were out of both cup competitions.

February

The season now entered that disjointed period when the 6 Nations impacts the fixture calendar and Bristol only played 2 games in the whole month.

Wasps at Loftus Road became a day to forget despite Bristol leading on the hour mark. Darren Crompton was red carded as Bristol conceded late tries in what was a sad farewell to Spencer Brown, one of the Shoguns' most popular players.

Dean Ryan had bolstered his squad in the meantime with the additions of Jamie Williams and Brendon Daniel and both had a massive impact as Bristol swept Newcastle aside 33-17.

This was one of Bristol's finest performances for some time and led to optimism that we were emerging from a difficult period.

March

Sadly, another fortnight elapsed between games and the momentum was lost. Bristol faced tricky away trips to Leeds and London Irish and finished both games without even so much as a bonus point to console them.

Things, at this point, were looking pretty grim and the supporters were getting restless.

However, a man named Peter Thorburn appeared on the scene to help Dean out. Whilst he is probably too modest to make too much of his own contribution, Bristol suddenly became a new team.

Harlequins at home was a potentially tricky tie with Quins well and truly in the relegation mire and it was a pretty tense affair to begin with.

However, Bristol weathered a Quins storm and ran riot, scoring 6 tries in the process. From despair to delight in a couple of weeks!

April

April dawned, the weather picked up and the pitches got firmer.

It all had a major impact upon Michael Lipman who suddenly became a huge factor in the Bristol team capping it with a 70 yard score away at Sale.

Bristol had suddenly become the entertainers of the Premiership. We actually only played 2 games in April and lost them both! But check out the scorelines - 47-53 away to Sale and 40-41 at home to Gloucester. 87 points scored in 2 games and 2 defeats. Incredible!

Despite the losses, there was a real optimism about the place as it looked as though we were really moving in the right direction - particularly if we could stop leaking tries!

May

We didn't know it at the time but what a month this would prove to be.

We entered the month with only the guarantee of 3 more league games. We finished the month alive and kicking in the playoffs.

First up were Leicester and they did us the disservice of fielding what they would call a second string team. Absent Tigers apart, this rapidly turned into a carnival for the Shoguns who romped to a 27-0 lead before Leicester clawed (pardon the pun) it back to 38-21.

Maybe this win took a bit too much out of the team or maybe we had grown too accustomed to watching running rugby and receiving bonus points for tries scored!

Whatever the reasons, we looked a little flat at home to Northampton despite leading at half time and looking good value for it. Northampton pipped us in the final stages and the main memory of the game was a sad one - Andrew Higgins leaving the field on a stretcher.

We had the luxury of resting a few players for the final game away at Saracens and those that came in did a fine job.

Felipe Contepomi was brought on in the last few minutes almost as if Dean Ryan had a premonition that a game winning kick would be required. It was the last kick of the game and he made no mistake!

The playoffs beckoned and nobody gave us a chance away at Leicester but what a performance on a foul day.

Felipe Contepomi was the undoubted star and was heavily involved in 3 first half tries. Leicester were stunned and could only reply with an injury time try. Bristol had blown the playoffs wide open.

June

A glorious June day welcomed Northampton to the Memorial Stadium beach for the semi final.

It was a classic tussle with both teams battling hard and the lead changing hands. Again, it was that man Contepomi who scored tries and kicked vital goals to clinch European Cup qualification and a place in the Twickenham final.

The final was a similarly tight affair but it was Ludovic Mercier who won the kicking duel and Gloucester edged home 28-23. Based on the season as a whole, they deserved it but Bristol pushed them all the way.

Then turmoil seemed to engulf the club. Jack Rowell left for Bath, Dean Ryan left for Gloucester and Jason Little retired.

Peter Thorburn stepped up to the head coach role - a move applauded by everyone.

Malcolm Pearce got tongues wagging with his talk of a 'phenomenal' new signing!

July

A relatively quiet month all things considered. Scott Morgan (Llanelli) and Peter Richard (Treviso) were the first summer signings and were shortly followed by Martin Shaw (Sharks).

August

August was friendly time and a preseason tour of Ireland saw a defeat to Munster but wins over Connacht and Leinster.

Not all the first team were involved so it was a good time for others to stake their claims. Ominously, Neil McCarthy injured a knee.

A final friendly resulted in a fairly uninspiring win over Ebbw Vale at home and Peter Thorburn admitted that we weren't as far advanced as we needed to be.

September

The big kick off and we started off with a disappointing home defeat against Saracens. We gifted them several scores and couldn't make up the gap as we slipped to a 45-30 defeat.

The following week saw a hugely improved performance at Wasps and we looked to have clinched victory but a controversial penalty try gave the win to Wasps 38-35.

Things got worse with another defeat, this time at home to Northampton. It was there for the taking but a 4 man overlap was blown and then Ben Cohen scored a sensational breakaway try.

Daryl Gibson finally arrived and made an immediate impact on his debut at Gloucester (by clashing heads with Mike Lipman!). Seriously, the Kiwi looked great until he had to exit the field and only a late flurry saw Gloucester ease away.

Finally, at home to Leicester, we got the elusive first win. It was achieved with 14 men for all but the first 90 seconds! A sensational team performance.

October

Unfortunately, the good work was for nothing when the game slipped away at Leeds despite Bristol being contention with 20 minutes to go. It was a disappointing blow.

Our first games in the Heineken Cup and a damp, drizzly Friday night in Dublin wasn't the way it was meant to begin!

Those of us who attended the Leinster game had a great time and did the team proud with our support. A late comeback couldn't quite peg the Irish back and we went down 29-23.

However, the team responded magnificently and a live BBC audience watched an inspired team performance upset the mighty Montferrand 24-19 the following week. Step forward Rhys Oakley, a late call up at number eight and Man of the Match.

November

Our Pumas headed off for international duty, pledging to return to help out when possible.

The first game without them was away at the Sharks and, once again, we were right in it until the final quarter before slipping away 28-14.

However, everything clicked into place at home to Newcastle who were missing Jonny Wilkinson. 5 tries were run in and a 38-10 scoreline didn't flatter us!

A ding dong battle at home to London Irish followed and we looked to have clinched it with Saul Nelson's late try but Shane Drahm's conversion was adjudged to have gone over the top of the post although several thousand Shoguns fans swore otherwise. A 32 all draw.

Then a magical moment as an inspired team performance saw Bristol win at the Rec for the first time in 21 years. Again, Rhys Oakley was Man of the Match.

December

The away day blues were banished at Newcastle thanks to a Brendon Daniel hat trick and things were rapidly improving as we moved up the table.

The Heineken Cup started over again and Bristol were robbed thanks to some bizarre refereeing at Swansea. Those of us who travelled were incredulous.

The record was put straight the week after with a 41-23 win over the same opposition. Daryl Gibson led the way with a hat trick including one after 26 seconds. Don't arrive at the game late was the message!

Malcolm Pearce appealed for financial help as Christmas approached and, on the field, Bristol fielded a weakened team in the Powergen Cup at home to Rotherham due to injuries and other players requiring an enforced rest.

The Yorkshiremen took gleeful advantage and we were dumped out of the Cup.

The year ended on a high when second placed Sharks were outmuscled by a superb Bristol pack on a wet Bristol day. Bristol finished the year in 8th which was the final 2001-2 league position.

It was certainly an up and down year and definitely not dull! Who knows what 2003 will bring?

It could be very exciting - Peter Thorburn will get the chance to mould his own squad but will hopefully keep the nucleus of the team together. Don't look away for a second!