On a freezing afternoon Bristol made a terrible start when Narraway tapped an early penalty, broke through the initial defence and offloaded to Morgan who still looked to have a lot to do.  Sadly he didn't, as he was able to waltz through the ‘defence' as players stood off him (I'll mention no names, but they know who they are).  The try was converted for a 0 - 7 lead with just five minutes gone.  Things continued to look ominous as Bristol coughed up what little possession they had.  The scrum, in particular, was an utter mess, with the referee seemingly unable to exert any authority (I thought he had improved since we first encountered him, but his recent performances have gone backwards).  Only the inability of Barkley to hit a relatively easy penalty kept the score as it was.

Surprisingly, given this state of affairs, it was Bristol who next got on the scoreboard when Ed Barnes kicked a good penalty having missed an earlier effort.  Bristol then promptly gave away a penalty virtually at the restart for Lamb to restore the gap to 3 - 10.  Gloucester now kept Bristol under pressure with only dogged defence keeping the visitors out.  The ‘highlight, for me was the sight of David Lemi somehow appearing from a ruck with the ball when a Gloucester score looked on the cards, jinking his way forwards and then clearing with a great kick.  Eventually, however the pressure told and Shaun Perry was sinbinned with a couple of minutes of the half left, for preventing release with the try line at the mercy of Gloucester.  I think, by the way, that captaincy has a detrimental effect on Perry's game.  He gets too involved in things that really don't concern him.  Who else we'd have is another matter.  Equally, I'd like to see some consistency from referees; I saw Gloucester players similarly preventing quick release and not even a penalty was awarded.  Lamb was, amazingly, off-target so that Bristol went in to half time just seven points behind.

For the second half Lemi moved to scrum half in Perry's temporary absence and looked good in the role.  I've often thought that with the ELVs in place the use of Lemi close to the scrum or at the lineout would be a useful tactic.  Bristol tried to take the ball to Gloucester through the forwards and made good inroads before being penalised, again, at the scrum.  Then Lee Robinson made a typically powerful break off his wing into midfield with the ball taken on by Luke Eves.  Gloucester prevented quick release, no one was sinbinned, and Barnes was just wide with his effort.  Bristol survived Perry's enforced absence without conceding a point, but that was probably just about it for organised attacks from Bristol.   Gloucester now put Bristol too the sword as they took play right into the Bristol 22.  Gloucester appeared to be in for a try (sorry, I couldn't see who the player was from my vantage point) when Luke Arscott, solid throughout, put in a fantastic tackle that temporarily halted the move as the ball spilled backwards.  Was he held back as he then went after the ball?  Of course the pressure told and Tindall cut an excellent angle to sprint through unopposed under the post for a converted try and a 3 - 17 lead.

Bristol huffed, puffed and certainly did not give up, but with just a few minutes left, quick ball saw Vainikolo take the ball through the heart of the Bristol defence for an unconverted try and a 3 - 22 lead.  Gloucester attacked from deep following the restart but, as they tried to loft a pass out to the right wing, Lemi popped up to seize the ball and sprint over behind the posts.  Replacement Adrian Jarvis converted to take Bristol to 10 - 22.  Another converted try now would take give Bristol a losing bonus point.  Equally, a try for Gloucester would give them a try scoring bonus.  They piled back downfield and once again lofted a high pass out to the right, again Lemi tried to get hold of the ball, but it was just too high for his desperate leap.  If he'd got hold of it I'm sure he could have run the length of the field, but it wasn't to be.  Instead, the ball was recycled and Tindall had the strength to get he ball over the line for the converted try that took Gloucester a deserved 10 - 29 victory.

What can you say?  Aspects of Bristol's play were still quite good, but all too often the ball carrier is isolated and unsupported.  This means that our backs get little chance to show if they are any good as they get slow ball and the opponents defence has reorganised.  This lack of support at the breakdown seems to indicate a lack of pace or dynamism in the forwards.  The loss of El Abd and Grieve is significant, as is that of Winters in the second row.  Controversially, I wonder about moving Ward-Smith forward.  He is, after all, now our primary source of lineout ball.  This would give us some pace and power in the second row and allow us to restructure the back row into a pacier unit.  Worth a go perhaps?

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