The Mancunian Candidates

tight 5 alive
By Ashley Down
March 18 2004

After delays cause by a couple of accidents on the motorway and the driver taking some wrong turnings we arrived at Grove Park about 2:25 and rushed into the bar for a beer.

Finding they didn't have any plastic glasses ended up necking the first pint quickly while watching the end of the Sale v Leeds match on tv. Quick dash round to the new terrace built in our honour and got in position just in time for the players to come out.
Club flag was at half-mast but couldn't find out why and there was no minute's silence before the game so no idea what that was about. The weather was bright and cheerful until kick-off when clouds gathered and the temperature dropped rapidly.
So to kick off with Bristol taking it just over the 10 metre line and Manchester were awarded a penalty by referee Tim (A bit fat) Beddow for taking out in the air. Manchester kick for touch but the ball is eventually worked back into Manchester half and no 5 Viliamu is an early casualty when he goes off with an injury to his left arm.
Bristol kicked high into the Manchester 22 and they concede a penalty for holding on by a rather unlucky Red who took a good catch and then got clobbered. Good pressure by Bristol resulted in Victor Frampton-Oniyide being put into space on the left and he ran the ball in from about 7 yards after good hands from Bris. Danny Gray missed the conversion, which was admittedly difficult in the wind, however, he over compensated and the ball ended up only just inside the 22. Almost immediately Bristol conceded 3 points from a penalty and the game started to get a bit scrappy, with knock ons and mis-timed passes marring promising moves.
Bristol were playing a more physical game than Manchester and held the upper hand in the scrums from the beginning. Good driving play resulted in a try being pulled back for a forward pass. Bristol began to miss a few first up tackles allowing Manchester gain ground and Bris conceded a penalty after some neat passing by the home team although they appeared to be over the top again. The penalty on the left was missed after the ball fell over in the wind.
Bristol then concede another penalty when they had driven over the ball when it would appear to be simply a pile-up caused by the Manchester pack falling over as they were driven backwards. The Manchester scrum-half was taken off on a stretcher and the penalty was kicked Manchester 6 Bristol 5.
A darting run from Marco resulted in a scrum to Manchester but Bris wheeled it round and broke left Bristol advanced to about six yards from the Manchester line and forced the defenders to concede a penalty which was quickly taken by Dodgson who was too quick for the covering defence; darting over about 15 yards in from left touch-line, Danny just missed the conversion.
Chip and chase from Manchester through the midfield resulted in a knock-on for some reason?(poor notes) however a punch up back in Manchester half gave the referee another opportunity for a rest and a little chat with his touch judge. A yellow card for Hodge and fuller and lo a pen for Bris. Danny kicked for touch and a good drive from the line-out resulted in a penalty for pulling down the maul. Kicked for touch again and Chris Morgan was driven over from 5 yards. Conversion missed to left of posts this time!!!
Bris fans were getting very noisy with the corrugated roof of the stand amplifying the sound and it was getting to be difficult to juggle pen, paper, beer and light cigarettes and watch the match at the same time. (Tell me about it! - DH) It started to rain and the game became scrappy again with turnovers and missed tackles becoming more evident. Danny Gray kicked ball in to touch from our 22.

Half-time Manchester 6-Bristol 15.

Bristol knocked on from kick-off but referee ignored it and waved play on however Bristol gave away a penalty for David Hilton coming in at the side of a ruck. The game gets a bit scrappy and Bristol have trouble getting the ball as Manchester give it their all, the ball is moved left and right and Manchester given a penalty despite their 19 entering the ruck from our side. Manchester moved the ball right and after a break is created by a couple of missed tackles on our left the inside pass was put to ground by Isaac Richmond.
The ball was kicked deep by Danny Gray and an attempted quick throw was pinged for not going 5 yards, free-kick Bristol. Kohn drove well through middle and the ball was moved left and perhaps Marsden should have passed but Bristol were given a penalty for handling in the ruck after Danny Gray tidied up the ruck. Line-out resulted in advantage being played for Bris on the Manchester try-line. The ball went all the way back to the 22 and Manchester still appeared to be offside. Bristol supporters not pleased. Eventually referee gave a scrum to Manchester despite finishing at least 15 yards behind the original penalty offence.
Bristol then conceded a penalty after driving the Manchester pack back seven or eight yards in the scrum. Bristol won the resulting line-out and advanced into 22 but knocked on (again). We won the ball from the scrum and Hodge drove well but the result was a penalty for holding on (at this point a lot of question and exclamation marks appear throughout notes) to Manchester.
Bristol had a scrum in the Manchester 22 after a kick upfield by Danny Gray. Bristol drove up to the line but were held up. The 5 yard scrum was driven by the forwards to the posts and another scrum to Bristol which ended with a try by Danny Gray as he finished a nice angled run to the left of the posts. As the defence shuffled to the right he ran straight in to the gap, a final despairing tackle attempt not preventing him from grounding the ball. This try was very popular on the terrace and not just because it gave us the bonus point. The conversion was kicked and the score was 22-6.
Advantage was then not played as Bristol broke from a ruck as the referee apparently wanted to talk to a Home player. After some delay no card was produced and a penalty to bristol awarded for stamping. The ball started flying around all over the place on the ground and some strange turnovers were going on. At this point my notes say "Ref!!"
Next a list:
Sun came out.
Scrum Manchester.
Line-out Bristol.
Went for quick wee round the back of the stand.
One of the best moves of the match went begging when Frampton broke well into 22 but mis-timed his pass and it went forward but Adam Billig knocked on anyway. Bristol were then given a penalty in midfield for deliberate hands in the ruck but still no card.
As time ran out Bris had a penalty 5 yards out in front of the posts and Greg Nicholls took a quick tap and ran the ball over the line on the right of the posts. DG missed the final conversion. No side 27- 6 to Bristol.
At the end of the day a good five points if a little scrappy and too many mistakes but some good pick and drives which is encouraging. A long day and too much beer and cider but great beef sandwiches and a barmaid with great legs what more could you ask?