BRISTOL LOSE THEIR WAY AMID WIND AND RAIN

In poor conditions Bristol laboured to a 7 - 21 victory over bottom placed Ealing.  The second half saw no points scored by either side and was a lacklustre affair.  In all honesty, the first half wasn't that much better.  Yes the weather was bad and the pitch slippery, but Rugby is a winter game.  This was not a promotion winning performance.  Or even much of a play-off place performance.

Ealing kicked off in blustery and drizzly conditions that deteriorated as the half wore on.  This means my first half note notes are slim to none, and Slim just rode out of town.

In the theme of the game, Ealing gave away an early penalty and Nicky Robinson made a long touch.  However, as Bristol pushed forward a recurring theme of Bristol’s season reared its head when a wayward pass was intercepted and Bedford (the player, not the club) raced the length of the pitch to touch down beneath the posts.

Bristol seemed to treat this as par for the course and set to working their way back into the Ealing 22.  This they did by way of the forwards and the hosts’ captain was shown yellow as the power could only be contained illegally.  As was demonstrated shortly thereafter when Nick Koster was driven over from the penalty lineout.  The conversion was an excellent one and the scores were equal.

Forward power was the key for the next Bristol try scored by Mr Penalty.  Bristol now led 7 – 14 and looked good value, despite never hitting any heights of excellence.  A further try followed soon after with Rhys Lawrence eventually credited after another good lineout move.  Again Robinson was spot on with his kick from out left for 7 – 21.  Bristol seemed to lose their impetus at this point, perhaps content that another try was inevitable given the clear forward dominance.  That was far from the case and it was Ealing he closed the half in positive fashion, but without ever really threatening to score save for one effort that was just held out.

The heavy rain largely abated in the second half, though the wind continued to be strong.  I remained standing where I had been hoping to see Bristol cut loose in the second half.  Well, although I could have written notes in the second half if you glanced at my notebook you would be greeted by the sight of a blank page.  I think I have rarely seen a half of rugby so lacking in interest.  Bristol had a few clumsy efforts on the Ealing five metre line (one from Ealing’s inexplicable decision to take a scrum rather than clear to touch following a penalty) that never looked like going over the goal line.  Ealing had one dash down the left wing that must have gone close before Bristol managed to force the player into touch.

And that was about it. There was a lot of huffing and puffing between the two 22s, but neither side showed any direction, imagination or urgency.  The conditions weren’t that bad.  An Ealing supporter behind me commented that Ealing were hugely improved, well if that was improved I shudder to think what they were like earlier in the season.  The trouble is, Bristol were only marginally better.