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Unfamiliar Bristol Open Cup Campaign

A Boot
By Huw Davies
November 21 2009
An unfamiliar looking Bristol side triumphed in their opening British and Irish Cup fixture. With several players making their first XV debuts it was a well deserved victory over Neath

Bristol got their campaign in the curiously named British & Irish Cup off to a deserved winning start against Neath.  The early play was all Bristol as Neath struggled to develop any cohesion.  A penalty from Chris Ashwin gave the visitors the lead after a quarter of an hour, but Neath hit back almost immediately with a penalty from former Bristol player Arwel Thomas.

Bristol scored the opening try of the game when wing George Watkins broke from deep, making a good 40 metres, and passed to the supporting centre Jack Gadd.  He slipped the ball to Iain Grieve who, continuing his recent good form, touched down under the posts.  Ashwin converted for a 3 - 10 lead at half time.

The Blacks came out strongly in the second half and swiftly reduced the deficit with a good Thomas penalty from out wide.  They went on to take the lead when the ball went loose in the tackle and Kiwi scrum-half Kevin Farrell seized the ball and went over for an unconverted try and a one point lead.

Bristol's new signing, Sam Giddens, made his debut with half an hour to go when Gadd was forced from the field.  Neath were to find themselves down to 14 men soon after when lock Peter Sidoli was sin-binned and conceded the lead from the resulting penalty.  Bristol pushed on strongly with the extra man and came close to a try before eschewing a penalty kick at goal to go for the corner but failed to make the pressure count.

Neath were back to full strength when Bristol scored with five minutes to go.  A defensive scrum close to the line was overwhelmed by the Bristol pack and the hosts were shoved off the ball.  Sam Alford took full advantage and pounced to score an unconverted try but a 18 - 11 lead.  Bristol lost a man of their own to the sin-bin in the dying minutes with former Blues player Ross Johnston carded for a dangerous tackle.  Neath were unable to benefit and Bristol ran out winners.

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Unfamiliar Bristol Open Cup Campaign
Posted by: bristolrugby.net (IP Logged)
Date: 21/11/2009 11:39

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:11:29:05:38:40 by SenorJuan.

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