Bleak House

Gary Mercer post match said this was the ugliest game he had seen in a long time with low energy levels in the first ten minutes especially. Well, arriving late as we did just in time to see Yorkshire press the Bristol line only to be held up, to be followed by more pressure and a penalty converted to go 3-0 up, things did not look too bad to me.......    

After an exchange of penalties Yorkshire pressed again and a quick pass from Hughes and some great jigging about with a purpose Goss provided a super solo try, Hughes converted, and we were up 10-6. Bristol to their credit soon produced a good powerful surge out of their half and a clever cross pitch kick to their fullback on the left wing resulted in a very well taken try in the corner , a further shuffle to put the ball down twice, and a converted kick from where the second touchdown was a couple more yards in. Subsequently the match became scrappy, with further penalties awarded often inexplicably either way due to scrum collapsing or holding on infringements at the breakdowns, and by half time the score was 13-16, with the game evenly balanced.

If I saw gaps in energy levels it was at the start of the second half when Bristol upped the ante for the first quarter and Yorkshire struggled to respond. More pressure on the Yorkshire scrum, and a lack of possession left Bristol bossing proceedings ending in a flowing move to put their full back in for his second converted try, 13-23. Mercer changed the front and second rows over the next few minutes, and the bulk of Hannay and the scrummaging of Imoliek against the big Bristol tight head brought more solidity to the Yorkshire pack, however despite a late ungrounded cross of the Bristol line the home team could not score any further points, and denied a late penalty chance to take a losing bonus point.

Bristol had the last word with a penalty on full time and deservedly took the game 13-26. Bristol reminded me very much of London Welsh. Big, powerful pack, good scrummaging and consistent in the line out, and releasing waves of runners, some onside and some not, towards the touchlines after a quick release from the breakdown. They will be tough to beat this year, if teams are unable to match them for possession and territory.

As for Yorkshire, we will improve as the first choice second rows return, we find our best settled back line, and possibly acquire some loanee talent to add some bite and extra cover. Bright points for me were Burrows at skipper playing his heart out as usual, and being much more visible in talking to the referee; Jones adding his presence, nous and line out skills at blind side; and Pilgrim having a sound first home game at scrum half. In my review I did have great expectations of the day and the game. The best team won by a small margin, but sadly it was not us. The crowd was lower than I had hoped and did not seem to know what to chant, with the dozen of Bristol fans who had travelled, even managing to outshout the South Stand. I saw fewer yellow hats, and only two mini teams at half time. I even felt sorry for the dancers and the opera singer staring into an empty North Stand at half time. On balance of the rugby side I think we still show some promise; on the off the pitch side and marketing the name and club there is a lot of work to be done. Bring on Donny next.