The pattern for the night was set when Bristol turned over early possession and straight running combined with simple offloads to put Newcastle wing Williams over in the right hand corner.  It was a let off for Bristol that the referee, in one of the few decisions to go Bristol's way, called the final pass forward.  However the visiting side were soon in front when May hit a fine penalty for a 0 - 3 lead.  Irritatingly the touch judges (or assistant referees) checked with each other rather than making an individual decision and leaving it to the referee if they disagree.  Oh well.  Bristol looked to hit back and got into Newcastle's 22 before losing the ball.  They licked back and Ed Barnes, who had a terrible game, allowed the ball to bounce and was left floundering.  Newcastle players were following up and drove for the line.  The Bristol defence was hopelessly disorganised and Parling went over for a converted try and a stunning 0 - 10 lead.  I don't like to criticise individuals but Barnes looked terribly nervous, as if the over-hyping of this match had got the better of him.  Decision-making and passing were poor and even his normally reliable place kicking faltered.  The terrible service he received didn't help either.

A second penalty from May saw Newcastle further in front at 0 - 13.  Bristol finally troubled the scoreboard when Barnes kicked his only successful effort to narrow the gap to 3 - 13 after some determined driving work from the forwards.  This was soon undone when Bristol gave away an easy chance for May to restore the gap at 3 - 16.  Lee Robinson made a typically powerful run , drawing in three defenders and keeping possession.  Play switched to the other wing and David Lemi, wholehearted as always, made some ground in limited space and the resultant penalty was sent to touch in the corner.  A catch and drive was the order of the day.  We saw what is now an old-fashioned rolling maul (which I believe is still an effective tactic) and the pack had several goes at getting over the line.  Valiant defence saw Bristol held up and eventually the ball went out wide but the only reward was an unsuccessful penalty attempt by Barnes.  As this was virtually the mirror image of the earlier kick to the corner, I have no idea why this choice was made.  This was the last significant play of a thoroughly disappointing half.  We needed to see a second half performance reminiscent of those from a couple of seasons back.

Initially it looked as if this was we might get as the forwards hit the rucks with greater purpose and quicker ball was won.  A penalty went Bristol's way but Barnes was off target with a pretty straightforward effort.  The evident urgency, or perhaps desperation, saw a speculative Matt Salter looped pass seized upon by Newcastle and an excellent break launched down the right wing.  Once again Newcastle did the basics right, ran straight, drew the defender and offloaded into space.  The defence was all at sea but Newcastle butchered the chance by going for an ambitious pass of their own and it flew into touch.  A try for Newcastle now looked much more likely than one from Bristol.  When it came, it exposed the Bristol defence with another exhibition of direct running and feeble tackling.  Williamson went through and over for an unconverted try and a lead of 3 - 21.

Bristol had no idea how to come back from this and we saw a display of largely ineffective, skill-less and unintelligent rugby.  Newcastle, in marked contrast, had a plan and stuck to it.  They continued to execute simple but effective moves that constantly threatened Bristol as they punched holes in the middle of the defence.  Bristol however continued to kick away possession or to lose the ball in the tackle.   It's hard to play if you don't have the ball.  Newcastle's third try neatly exemplified this when May did kick a nice chip into to space, but then gathered the ball, fed it out into the centre of the field where direct running saw Newcastle well into the Bristol half.  The ball went back to the right of the pitch and suddenly Wilson, who had only just come on, raced clear with scarcely a finger to touch him.  May converted for 3 - 28.  Worse was to come when replacement Perry romped over for another converted try and a lead of 3 - 35.  It was the bonus point for Newcastle.  All that remained was for Bristol to huff and puff for the next seven or eight minutes.  The general disappoint even affected Lemi who made a rare error in open play when he fumbled the ball forward.  The last play of the match had Bristol's forwards pummelling away ineffectually at the Newcastle line.  It sadly typified Bristol's performance.

Oh dear.  This was a shocking performance with the faults obvious throughout the season once again all too apparent.  Bristol failed individually and collectively.  Only two of the backs made any real impression and those were Robinson and Lemi.  The pack struggled in the scrum but did at least look vaguely respectable in the lineout.  Play in the loose was anonymous.  Any sign of a strategy was largely invisible and our tactics to carry one out were inadequate.  Once again we kicked possession away and we were, again, treated to an inept kicking display from Perry with the now familiar kick out on the full.  The defence was poorly organised and executed.  The infrequent attacks were easily snuffed out and possession often turned over.  Newcastle looked as if they wanted to win, executed a simple game plan and did the basics.  Bristol didn't.

What has lead to this parlous state of affairs?  If I knew, I'd be in charge.  Yes, off the field events have undermined our efforts, but we've certainly contributed to our own problems.  Fitness isn't where it was.  I'm not saying that players aren't physically fit, just that they aren't fit in the right way.  Too many of them look over muscled, particularly abdominally.  It is significant that our two most tricky and well balanced runners, who can also tackle well, are Mat Turner (if he does actually play for us) and David Lemi who are both slightly built.  I'd contrast this with Shaun Perry who has developed a hugely domed belly (not fat, if you think I'm trying to be funny) and seems to have become inflexible as a result.  Similarly, Dan Ward-Smith (who does have the excuse of compensating for a serious injury) has bulked up to such an extent that his posture now seems very awkward and again his flexibility has suffered.  Are they training in our state of the art gym in an effort to somehow show they are working hard even if it isn't in the right area of the game?

Tactically we seem to have few ideas and lack the skills and composure to execute what we do have.  The kicking from hand is woeful and the poor chasing won't turn a bad kick into a good one.  Stop doing it, or chase it better.  Support play is too slow; players get isolated and give away a penalty or get turned over far too frequently.  Lastly, I don't think that the psychology is right.  I said in my last report that building this game up as the crux of the season was probably wrong.  The tension and lack of confidence was palpable, Ed Barnes suffered most visibly but his half back partner was also way off his best.  At fullback Tarscott tried hard, and was largely solid under the high ball, but his positional play was very shaky and the amount of space he had seemed to cause agoraphobia.  It can't have done his confidence any good.

Where do we go from here?  Logically; to National Division 1.  Sport, and sporting loyalties, aren't always logical though.  I, for one, will be at Sale to support my team (also because this may be my last chance to go to that ground in the Premiership!).  Perhaps the team will relax and play some decent rugby, perhaps some of our younger prospects will have a go.  Perhaps our rivals may also relax and lose a few.  Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps...

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