Brave Bristol Lack Gloss Finish

scrum down
By Peter O'Farrell
January 24 2005

In the end Bristol can be proud of their achievements during this cup run as they certainly weren’t disgraced in losing to Gloucester 21-0 at a soggy Kingsholm.

The large Bristol contingent will be slightly disappointed to have lost of course; but the game was approached with the aim of enjoyment of a day in the limelight, and neither the players nor the supporters let themselves down. The nature of the performance will please Bristol most, as they where hardly made to look like National 1 side, and although never realistically came close to scoring, weren’t completely outplayed by Gloucester’s strongest available side.

Gloucester couldn’t underestimate the importance of this game to them, as it may be their only realistic chance to gain qualification for the Heineken cup following their unceremonious exit from the competition at the hands of Stade Francais the week before, and their patchy league form.

However it was Bristol who came out the stronger of the two teams, gaining an early foray into the Glos 22 with a good try scoring opportunity. However the ball was turned over and the chance was lost.

Gloucester cleared their lines from the resulting kick, but where some 45 metres out penalised for offside after 3 minutes. Strange went for the kick but never really came close to putting it through the posts.

Gloucester had a chance to get the scoreboard ticking after 10 minutes with a penalty worked from a pick and drive at a line-out. Bristol where caught off-side from the resulting ruck and Henry Paul had a chance close to the right touchline. However he missed the opportunity and Bristol fans maybe began to dream…

Bristol showed great spirit and this was none more emphasised than by Sam Cox and Rob Higgitt who sent Terry Fanolua flying and saw him knock the ball on. Indeed Cox tackled fantastically all afternoon against the big man Fanolua and can’t have been far off Motm.

For Bristol though it was a case of stout defence and nothing going forward. Gloucester began to assert a small amount of control on the game that saw Henry Paul score the first points of the afternoon and Gloucester 3-0 up after 16 mins.

Gloucester again found their way into the Bristol 22 on 24 minutes, and were awarded a 5-metre scrum after Marko carried the ball over the line from a chip kick under pressure. Bristol repelled the onslaught on the try-line but were penalised in doing so by referee Lander and Glos stretched their lead to 6-0.

Bristol where matching Gloucester man for man, particularly in mauls for which they are renowned, although a number of turnovers from line-outs began to hurt Bristol.

Gloucester extended their lead on 34 minutes when whistle happy Lander spotted skipper Joe el Abd coming in at the side, and Paul converted his third penalty from 35 metres. 9-0.

Bristol battled towards the half time whistle, stopping Gloucester late in the half from scoring the try that would have killed the game off. Half time came and Bristol still had a realistic chance, although attacking action from the shoguns was limited.

Gloucester continued in the same vein as the first half and turned down an easy 3 points, instead going for the catch and drive from the line-out. Bristol cut off the maul and a scrum was ordered after the ball became dead. Gloucester tried to bully their way over the line, but in the process lost the ball against the head. However the ball popped loose and Andy Gomersall was quickest to dive over from a couple of metres. Paul converted to put Glos in a seemingly unassailable 16-0 lead.

Bristol enjoyed their best passage of play since early in the first half, driving the ball up the centre of the field through the forwards, but the slippery handling conditions saw the ball go to ground and the opportunity lost.

Gloucester than gained their second try with a chip over the top. Our winger (whom I couldn’t see from my not so advantageous viewpoint) was first to the ball, but the bounce took it away from him and into the arms of old Bristol boy Alex Brown who leaped over to seal the game. Paul missed the conversion but Glos stretched their lead to 21-0.

Bristol enjoyed a late rally and almost scored through Motm Jim Brownwrigg, but killjoy Lander gave a spate of almost baffling penalties to ensure we where ‘nilled’.

Gloucester ended the game comfortable if not totally convincing winners against a spirited display from Bristol. Hopefully we will be visiting Kingsholm again next season. (Although I’m sure some will disagree) One fan commented that it was the busiest he’d ever seen the ground.

Special mentions to Brownwrigg and Cox who where fantastic defensively and stood out, but collectively the team was awesome. Role on Nottingham!

One notable highlight was the announcement on the train home, given how busy it was with the 1813 to Temple Meads Cancelled and the next train at 19.15 a bus. ‘Those people sat in club class will be charged the premium rate if found with standard tickets.’

Surely even the train driver laughed at that one.