website doesnt use stung by Wasps headline shocker

Strong running
By David Hibell
November 18 2003

Powergen cup round 6 was the exit point for Bristol last year and it was the same round this year, but there the similarities end as Bristol showed fight in a result that didn't reflect the way the game went, London Wasps running in three tries in the last 11 minutes

The side grew up a lot on Sunday, they faced a team with a mix of players with a wealth of experience at a higher level and carried the fight to them.

Right from the start it was clear that the players were not overawed, unusually Bristol were attacking the old scoreboard end in the first half and were soon on the attack, a poor kick from Tom Voyce fielding the ball after a break by Paul Hodgson gave Bristol a line out deep in the Wasps twenty two.  A catch and drive turned into a rolling maul but tempers frayed and punches started to fly.  Ollie Hodge was spotted throwing a haymaker at Shane Roiser and was given a yellow card.

The Bristol players showed great tenacity in the ten minutes that followed and did not concede a single point and taking advantage of their several chances to attack, the clearest one coming after RMR fielded the ball and beat his man to set up a ruck where Wasps transgressed, the resulting penalty taking play up to the 22, Bristol broke down the right wing and Sean Marsden was bundled into touch by John Rudd ten yards out from the Wasps line. 

Wasps were first to score however, in a passage of play that started like so many of the tries deep in Wasps territory after a Bristol attack.  The Bristol fans may be entitled to look a little bemused about this first one though as the referee seemed to be playing advantage to Bristol after Dodge was tripped after kicking ahead, Wasps having fielded the ball had total control of the ruck so it was hard to see where the advantage was to Bristol from the trip.  But that is to take nothing away from Wasps who changed the point of attack to the left before one of the three starting Bristol old boys Peter Richards made a darting run and Tom Voyce was able to touch down in the right corner.

Worse was to follow when not only did Alistair McKenzie go over in the left wing immediately from the restart but Ollie Kohn had to leave the field with an injury to his A-C joint that could keep him out for 10 to 12 weeks.  Richard Hunt came on in his place with Bristol 10-0 down after a quarter of the game.

Danny Gray had the chance to put Bristol on the board after a couple of breaks by Sean Marsden when Wasps were penalised but he pulled the penalty left.  Bristol were awarded a few more penalties as they looked to get on the scoreboard, mixing things up by running a few of them, most of the Bristol attacks going down the right wing, the closest the Shoguns got to scoring a try in the first half coming from just such an attack on 34 minutes with Bails unmarked on the left wing screaming for a cross field kick Bristol managed to drive a maul over the line on the right but the ball was held up, much to the watching Mitsu's chagrin!  Bristol fed the ball out to the backs but the centres over ran the ball and possession and field position was wasted.

Wasps were down to fourteen men themselves on 37 minutes when openside Jonny O'Connor was sin binned.  With play staying in the middle of the field Bristol wasted the advantage with silly mistakes before Van Gisbergen was able to stretch Wasps' lead with a penalty on 41 minutes.  However from the restart Bristol were awarded a penalty after Wasps didn't stay on their feet in a ruck and this time Danny Gray was able to get Bristol on the board on the stroke of half time.

Bristol attacked again in the second half, Bails breaking down the left with Griff in support, but Wasps were awarded a penalty as the ball was not released quickly enough for referee David Rose.  The Bristol centre pairing were quite prominent at this time with Rob Higgit and Jon Hawker showing good strength as Bristol camped in the Wasps half.  A Wasps back row move going wrong gave Ollie Hodge the chance to make amends for his earlier sin binning but the ball out was too slow and the Wasps line remained unbroken.

Bristol made a few substitutions this half with RMR being replaced by Ben Gerry after 12 minutes, Saul Nelson and Alex Clarke coming on for Dave Hilton and Neil Clark after half an hour, Adam Billig and Greg Nicholls replacing Jon Hawker and Paul Hodgson shortly after and lastly Michael Hook replacing Danny Gray going into the last ten minutes.

Van Gisbergen scored the first Wasps try of the half which he converted himself after a clean break and then another long range try seeming to start almost from the Wasps line was started by Tom Voyce rounding Danny Gray and finished by him at the other end of the field getting the ball back from John Rudd who burst through the stretched Bristol defence.

Bristol did not lose heart though and attacked again through Griff down the right wing, down the right, he played a grubber kick down the wing but was taken out late.  Bristol were awarded a series of penalties, looking to go for the line out initially, then a scrum, then another line out.

 

Finally the try came with James Bailey continuing his run of a try in every round of the competition.  

Wasps replied with a score to Tim Payne on 29 minutes before Rob Higgit broke free deep in the Wasps 22 offloading to Adam Billig but the replacement centre was hauled back just short of the line.   Tom Voyce completed his hat trick  after 35 minutes with John Rudd adding the last try, Fraser Waters, who replaced Denney 15 minutes into the half, adding the conversion.