PIRATES PUMMELED BY BRISTOL

Ashton Gate saw its first bonus point win with the home side crushing the opposition by seven tries to three.  A comfortable enough win, but there were enough errors in both attack and defence to give the coaches plenty to work on.  But there is an A fixture tomorrow and another league game on Friday, so they have their work cut out this week

Bristol kicked off their second home fixture at Ashton Gate in very similar conditions to the first.  Even the crowd, although clearly not of the same size looked bigger than the average size at the Memorial Ground.  The initial exchanges were rather tentative with an early knock-on, reset scrum and then a penalty to Bristol.  The kick went to touch and the lineout was well claimed, only for another knock-on when the ball was moved wide.  Bristol were having the better of things when Pirates were penalised again.  The catch and drive was a good one and former Bristol player Darren Berry was shown yellow as the visitors struggled to contain the Bristol forwards’ power.  It wasn’t something calculated to help his side in any subsequent forward exchanges and, sure enough, Bristol chose to take a scrum.  Pirates crumbled under the pressure and the referee didn’t wait for Bristol to trundle over as he awarded a penalty try duly converted by Mathew Morgan.

Bristol made something of a mess of the restart with the ball clumsily knocked forward.  Pirates advanced only for Morgan, somehow, to strip the ball in the tackle.  Bristol then cut loose with a fine flowing move with good handling along the line (especially Ben Glynn who hung on to a slightly casual pass).  The ball ended up with Max Crumpton who sprinted, with the hint of a dummy, over for a converted try.

Pirates were undaunted and an opportunistic hack ahead from loose ball left Bristol totally exposed.  However the defence raced back and Auguy Slowik pounced on the ball got back to his feet and managed to make a little ground despite the attempts of the Pirates.  It is rare for defence to enthuse the crowd, but this skill certainly did.  Bristol struck back quickly from this setback with a sudden burst from Anthony Perenise that sucked in the defence and the ball swept out to Andy Short who lanced through for another converted try.  A try that was swiftly cancelled out when Pirates kicked a penalty to touch and the pack drove over with Bolwell claiming the spoils.  Hallett converted to make it 21 – 7.

The visitors seemed rejuvenated and a break threatened the Bristol line before good cover defence snuffed out the threat.  Bristol were stung by this attack and swept forward with another excellent attacking move.  The superb Mitch Eadie cut the Pirates defensive line and floated out a long looping pass to the supporting Slowik.  He showed his attacking prowess as he dummied and then slid over in the corner to take Bristol in 26 – 7 at half time and with the bonus point in the bag.

Pirates had to score early in the second half if they were to take anything from the game and they started well.  The visitors put Bristol under pressure beneath the posts only to lose the scrum and for Bristol to clear to touch.  The throw-in at the lineout was miles off the straight and narrow but was missed by the officials.  However a soft penalty seemed to halt the Pirates momentum and it was Bristol’s turn to pressure the opposition try line.  Clumsy handling handed possession to Goss who raced away from one end of the pitch to the other with the Bristol defence unable to respond.  He dotted down out right to give a difficult conversion chance that Hallett failed to convert.

Bristol’s lapse in concentration was reminiscent of the manner in which sides came back at Bristol last season.  Ashton Gate saw no such relaxation with Bristol riposting almost immediately with another fine move.  A well taken lineout with good clean ball off the top was swiftly out to Morgan who cut a great line, before the ball went to Slowik to race in behind the posts for a converted try.  Pirates attempted to respond and made good ground when a clear knock-on was missed, followed by a foot in touch that was similarly overlooked.  Bristol were then penalised to give the visitors good field position but somehow managed to escape when Pirates lost control as they drove for the line.

It was a let off for the hosts and they ruthlessly took advantage when a perfectly good kick from Hallett bounced cruelly away from the onrushing Pirates winger and was, instead, claimed by Morgan.  Now at fullback, he chipped ahead and the visitors’ defence scrambled back.  Kessell dropped on the ball but his desperate attempt to flip the ball back only resulted in the ball flying neatly into the hands of Mitch Eadie who romped over beneath the posts for another converted try.

Bristol were still eager to attack and a nice chip ahead from replacement Luke Baldwin was superbly taken in the air by Ryan Edwards as the home side pressed forwards.  With full time approaching Jack Tovey made a half break and the ball was quickly out to supporting Morgan whose hand off on a would-be tackler was surprisingly strong.  He bounced clear and dashed in at the corner but was unable to convert his first Bristol try.  There was still time for Goss and Moyle to combine for another length of the pitch effort but it was probably scant consolation with the final score 45 – 17.