After 7 mins Bris 7 Notts 0. Giddens/Jarvis.

10 - 0

They took their try well, but their 6 was not bound properly
7-10

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10 -7. Oh dear.

Mitts 5 sin binned
crowd clap him off

bris knock on 5 yards out

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Lee attracting 2 defenders every run

home crowd not liking ref

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Todd held up
5 yard scrum

knock on when going over
half time

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Jp over near posts, aj converts
7-17

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Bris 17 - 7

Notts pen in front on 22, 10-17
bris right back in their 22, crossing tho

notts knock on on their 10 yard line

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Notts 12 sin binned for something tj spotted when bris were threatening on left wing
chip to corner intercepted
notts on attack

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Bris 22 - 10 Pennycook

doncaster 27 roth 20
f/time

Red scores in right corner, lovely stuff
aj misses 10-22

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Notts pen in front
13-22
back to 15

Irish off, mako on

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Another notts pen
16-22
squeaky bum time

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Not a stunning game and a bit tight at the end.

Just wondering about not going for the penalty kicks again in the first half. Is this down to again us not having the confidence in AJ

I think its down to us wanting bonus points.

Yeah, players full of confidence & want to go for tries
did go for one kick in first half mind.

Their line out shaded ours I thought
our backs looked more cohesive tho

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Just got back and my thoughts are that once again we made too many silly handling mistakes by trying to force the score. We also didn't manage to capitalise during the two periods Nottingham were down to 14 men. At one point I thought I'd gone to watch a tennis match with bouts of aimless boring kicking up an down the field. Nottingham never really looked like they were that capable of scoring a try from open play and the one they did was a gift (altho I couldn't figure out how the player got up so fast from the scrum to intercept the pass but having read the previous message now I know). The standard of refereeing was once again diabolical - for both teams. Bris certainly didn't cover themselves in glory. Interestingly overheard a Nottinghan supporter on the way out saying how much Nottingham appeared to have stepped up their game and that this may have been down to who they were playing.
Think the refs watch must have gone wrong as I still don't understand where almost 5 mins of stoppages came from in the second half.

The home crowd really didn't like the ref.

Bristol's dominance really didn't get reflected in the score, although handling mistakes cost at least two tries.

I enjoyed the game although the team didn't really click though.

Lee was used very effectively as a crash ball man and had a good game although a couple of 'Lee moments'.

Luke Arscott and James Phillips would be my joint MOMs.

Scrappy game that although Bristol dominated for long periods they could have lost. Pressing for tries they almost gifted a couple of interceptions - I would hate to see that happen in a playoff semi or final. I'm a bit split on applauding the kicking for lineouts to go for tries & killing the opposition with 3 pointers.

Guy behind me was very unhappy with ref, although he seemed blind to deliberately showing play etc - the first yellow card was well deserved, their guy lay on top of the ruck, 5 yards out from their line, with legs firmly planted our way to prevent quick ball.

Anyone know what parts of the Nottingham team were Leicester loans? Or have they all gone back during six nations? & what are play off rules in this area?

So where do you folks think Bris are in terms of preparation for the playoffs? I ask because you seem to have done enough to win but no more against both Plymouth and Nottingham.

Exe have won better perhaps than the scoreline suggests against Bedford, Nottingham and Pirates. I say this because we have made wholesale substitutions once the game was won and then leaked 2 or even 3 soft tries in the last 15 minutes.

Notwithstanding the christmas hiatus which was caused by spending time in the gym not on the pitch, we seem to be getting a little better in each of the last three weeks. IMO it would be good if you were doing the same and we could end the season having the clash of the league's two best teams rather than either of us getting sandbagged en route.

It interesting, in the past few days Bris have confirmed that they're mathmatically confirmed as being in the play offs and aiming for a top 2 spot.

I think this is now allowing Bris to start to look ahead, beyond the playoffs and what may be for the prem.

We have a number of squad members who havent really had much of a run in the side, this therefore is the opportunity to give such players a go in the 'shop window', give them game time experience and assess whether they're candidates for contracts if/when we get promoted. This is esp true given the difficulties posed by recruiting post play offs.

Having said that is not wholesale changes, in fact only a few changes in certain positioning but just changes that are taking time to gel , a little. Still performing well just not quite got the polish and understanding that come from game time.

So done enough to get to the play offs and now building again via full squad inclussion for the play offs themsleves and then another stab at the prem.

bofb, the 6 that wasn't binding was on the opposite side of the scrum to the one the ball came out from, the seven looked to be properly bound

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Oops yes Elegia - all happened a bit quick for me.

Anyway as far as where we are I agree there appears to be a good deal of making sure that players are getting at least some game time and rotating of players. My major concern is the lack of a really reliable accurate kicker. IMHO there have been occasions recently where even allowing for injured players we haven't started with what I would call our strongest team or combination of players.

Not just the home crowd that didnt like the referee, Bristol supporters around me equally confused at times, however.... it wasnt the referee who made handling and poor decision making and the now obligatory rubbish kicking which both sides were guilty of. The one piece of real quality in the game was Bristols third try, created solely by the No.15's chip and catch, followed by slick handling. The game was never awful because Nottingham were nearly always in touch but it never seemed to gain the momentum needed to make it really exciting. Nottinghams (dropped) last play perfectly summed it up. Nottinghams defence was generally excellent (it had to be when down to 14 twice),but after heroic defence up to half time it was spoilt somewhat by the softish try early after the restart which meant we were playing catch up again.
The trouble with this stupid play off format is that even now, no one seems totally sure whether teams are in form (or beating weakened teams) or losing because they're selecting weakened teams for whatever reason.
It's not rocket science to see that Bristol and Exeter are the best teams in the league, but I have a sneaky feeling one is going to fall foul of the one off games in a few weeks time.
Nottinghams back line has been considerably weakened with USA scrum half Tim Usasz long term injured and the excellent no.10 Tim Taylor now on loan at Gloucester for the season, which may have made a big difference on sunday.

Hope you all enjoyed the trip to Nottingham, very enjoyable mixing with you before, during and after the game.