Many thanks to Tiny George for stepping in for the last two match reports while I was away.

On a warm evening, the opening 5 minutes or so were a cagey affair but Bristol looked the more incisive of the teams.  Man-of-the-Match James Phillips made a powerful break, passing out of the tackle to the supporting Junior Fatialofa who shipped the ball out to Dan Norton who, under pressure from the Doncaster defence, was just unable to get to the line.  On the quarter hour Adrian Jarvis, continuing his excellent line kicking, sent a penalty down to the Doncaster 22.  A surprisingly dapper David Blaney sent a long, slightly off-centre, throw at the lineout that Phillips picked off.  He made a little ground before the ball went along the line with Jack Adams well tackled out wide.  The pack was up in support however, and Phillips finished the move he had started by picking up at the ruck and powering over near the posts.  Jarvis converted and Bristol led 7 - 0 after 17 minutes.

Jarvis' place kicking frailties looked to have made a worrying reappearance just minutes later when he sent a relatively straightforward penalty well wide of the posts.  Given that Doncaster looked to be having problems at the scrum it seemed that a number of penalties would come Bristol's way.  Nonetheless Bristol were back on the scoresheet after 25 minutes.  Lee Robinson, looking aggressive and sharp unleashed an uncharacteristically deft chip over the defensive line.  With both he and Norton chasing it looked as if only and unkind bounce would prevent a try and, in the event, it sat up nicely for him to slide over the line for a converted try and 14 - 0.

Doncaster sensed that they had to get some points now or the hosts would be unassailable.  They worked their way into the Bristol half and were awarded an undeserved penalty, after some untoward off the ball stuff (a feature of the first half) out on the right.  Enterprisingly they took a quick crossfield kick against a seemingly unprepared Bristol defence.  Try-scorer Robinson had other ideas and, once again, he took a high kick well to avert the danger.  His action was not over for the evening and he scored another try just before half time.  On this occasion it was Jarvis who spotted the space and put in a grubber kick.  Robinson was up quickly, seized the ball and, narrowly avoiding a rather high attempted tackle got over right in the corner.  An excellent conversion saw Bristol into a well deserved 21 - 0 lead.

Five minutes into the second half the try-scoring bonus point was secured.  Iain Grieve showed his strength and pace to burst into the Doncaster defence who came offside in their efforts to prevent quick ball.  As we have come to expect, Jarvis put in another good touchfinder and the pack went for the ever reliable catch-and-drive move.  In the first half Doncaster had attempted to step away from the lineout so that the Bristol forwards would be bound without being in contact with any of the opposition but the officials either failed to spot the tactic or didn't understand the law.  This time Doncaster attempted more conventional defence but the Bristol forwards were able to creep towards the line before Phillips picked up and drove over for 28 - 0 after Jarvis' conversion.

Understandably Bristol looked rather casual after this, but Doncaster's riposte was fully warranted.  They kept hold of possession and patiently worked their way into the Bristol 22.  They kept up the pressure and a try always looked on the cards.  Bristol gave away a penalty that Doncaster tapped for former Bristol player Chris Hallam to steal his way over.  The try was converted to narrow the gap to 28 - 7 with nearly an hour played.  Any hope of an unlikely comeback for the visitors was effectively dashed barely three minutes later when backrow forward Andy Boyde was sent to the naughty step.  Frankly we could have seen yellow cards earlier.  Bristol took full advantage with another penalty sent into touch for the forwards to take on.  Redford Pennycook was the grateful beneficiary.  His try was well converted for a 35 - 7 lead.  Conversely, we also saw the unedifying spectacle of Bristol opting for a scrum 30 metres out and then being penalised.

Replacements had started to come on with the hour and the game became rather shapeless, but Bristol finished on a high when Norton was rewarded for his sterling efforts.  Released out on the wing he went over untouched.  Largely because only a surface-to-air missile would have been able to intercept his balletic leap over the line.  Spectacular, but one day he'll drop the ball doing this and then we won't be so pleased!  Jarvis converted with the final touch of the game for a final score of 42 - 7.

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