Bristol Shoguns v USA Eagles XV match report

try scoring return
By David Hibell
April 8 2003

There has been no update on the site for a week, it's like nothing has happened. Have you missed it? If you want Rugby to continue are you supporting the 5000 club? look for a letter soon and make sure you reply quickly. Here is the match report...

 

 

The United States Eagles put up a spirited performance ahead of their qualifier against Spain in Madrid and rotated their team en masse at the start of the third half (fourth period?) giving almost everyone a run out although there was no appearance from Dan Lyle, he restricted himself to prowling the touch line.

Bristol also took the opportunity of the break from Premiership action to give run outs to some squad players, some back from injury and some under 21's with six under 21s on the pitch at the end of the game.  Indeed the Bristol team had a very unfamiliar look to it with three scrum halfs on the pitch at one point.  I remember Kyran Bracken and Rob Kitchen appearing together for a while with Rob Kitchen proving adept at grabbing tries on the wing, but not three at the same time!

The match proved something of a slow burner, after an interception try in the first few minutes for the Eagles there was a long period of sustained Bristol pressure with The Eagles managing to repel most attacks.  Bristol opted not to kick for goal but took quick taps or went for lineouts on any penalties awarded.  Christophers and Daniel were especially prominent, Brendan looking to run from everywhere, one such break down the right wing led to the USA number 6 being sin binned on the 21st minute. 

The first Bristol try came from turnover ball won by Craig Short, who has obviously spent a fair bit of time in the sun recovering from his injury going by the healthy glow of his sun tan, play had broken down and a scrum was awarded from which Pichot broke down the right wing beating two players before off loading to Christophers who was up in support for the England winger to touch down.  Drahm missed the conversion and the score was left evenly poised at 5-7.

Lee Best picked up a knock somewhere as he was limping quite badly and he was replaced in the first half by John Clarke who made several powerful runs and looks one for the future.  Shortly after he came a huge kick from the Bristol 22 by Drahm to the USA 22 took an awkward bounce, Bristol chased it up well and won a penalty.  The Eagles did not seem to be back 10 yards but the referee played on and as the ball was moved right we knocked on and the Eagles were awarded a scrum in their 22.  That was the last real chance of the half which ended with Paul Johnson on for Sherridan Bristol Shoguns 5 - United States Eagles 7

The second half was split into two periods of play with Bristol having by far the upper hand in the first, Brendan Daniel scoring a try early on followed by one from Christophers showing good strength after excellent work from John Clarke.  Both these were converted by Shane Drahm and Bristol were now firmly in the driving seat leading 19-7.

Clarke went off injured to be replaced by Martin Shaw, Pichot was replaced by Peter Richards and as we headed into the last period of play Chris Rowlands came on for Saul Nelson, Paul Hodgson for Phil Christophers and practically the whole Eagles team was replaced.

Higgins managed to ghost through for his first score of the match and Matt Carrington appeared to hit the post on his conversion attempt, although it was markedly better than one in the first half from the Eagles that went parallel to the touchline...

The Eagles showed their propensity to inflict friendly fire when from a Carrington clearance from the 5 yard line two Eagles players both went for the ball leaving one of them needing attention.  But they soon dragged themselves back into the game when they managed to score down the left touchline followed shortly after by a second interception try to close the gap to 24-21. 

Swift had come on for Richard Skuse and Richard Martin Redman for Rhys Oakley by this point with Carrington switched from wing to fly half.  There was still time for one final score with Michael Lipman racing in from a line out on half way Carrington slotting the extras to leave the final score 31-21 to Bristol.

A review of the match by Planet Rugby is here; http://www.planet-rugby.com/LATEST_NEWS/story_27002.shtml