Bristol, in the now ominous change strip (why this time?), kicked off the match and Newcastle virtually instantly gave away a penalty.  Ed Barnes went for the posts but was well to the left.  Bristol maintained the early pressure and Graeme Beveridge darted close before another penalty was awarded Bristol's way and, this time, Barnes made no error with his straightforward kick for a 0 - 3 lead.  The Newcastle packs tried to take play to Bristol but were incurring the referee's displeasure, to their frustration.  However it was Bristol, despite seeing the referee's concerns about the breakdown who were next penalised and the saintly Jonny equalised the score at 3 - 3.

Bristol moved to attack but the Newcastle defence was equal to the task.  Indeed, it was slack Bristol play that allowed Rudd to gain good ground to get the hosts back on the move.  Wilkinson made a half-break only to see Scott Linklater legally scrabble the ball back on the ground.  This looked as if it might set Bristol free but yet another penalty halted Bristol in their tracks.  Pressure was on Bristol as Wilkinson showed his tactical acumen to control the game.  Newcatle took full advantage as the pack drove for the line.  Balding followed up popped over for a converted try and a 10 - 3 lead.  Bristol strove to get quickly back into contention and Newcastle gave them an early opportunity with a stupid penalty.  Barnes was just left with his effort.  Bristol tried to force the pace and went for a ten man lineout in their efforts to disrupt Newcastle's play.  An attacking scrum saw Dan Ward-Smith make a couple of powerful runs before surprise centre Luke Arscott snatched at his pass when the line was threatened.  Wilkinson cleared the danger, only for yet another penalty to halt any momentum.  Bristol returned to Newcastle's 22 and committed nine men to the lineout to keep the pressure on.  Bristol probed the defence only for Joe El Abd to knock-on.

The half drew to a close with Wilkinson prominent.  Their movement was all lateral and inevitably a penalty was given away to relieve the pressure on Bristol.  The now familiar aerial ping-pong ensued with a bout of inconclusive kicking before Wilinson launched a superb kivk downfield.  Sadly for Newcastle, Rudd showed an utter lack of ambition in his ‘chase' and Bristol survived just 10 - 3 down at half time.  Both sides had looked nervous and play suffered as a consequence, but would the seven pint cushion and home advantage be enough?

Roy Winters knocked on from Newcastle's kick-off and this permitted Newcastle to take play into the Bristol 22.  A defensive lineout was secure for Bristol but Barnes' long kick served only to hand possession back to Newcastle.  Newcastle decided to take the same option and both sides resorted to aimless kicking as an alternative to playing rugby.  There was even a really obvious knock-on to allow the officials to get into the display of incompetence by failing to notice it.  Bristol tried to maul the ball forward but this was easily defended.  Still Bristol kept up the pressure on Newcastle but lacked any cutting edge with only the bludgeon on display.  A lot of huff and puff from both teams had little effect as they continued to battle for composure.

Eventually, the only real quality on view came from Wilkinson to force play back to Bristol and lead to an attacking lineout just outside the Bristol 22.  Newcastle swept in to the attack and looked to have pierced the defence only for a forward pass from Wilkinson to bring the whole thing to a shuddering halt.  Bristol struggled in the scrum and a quickly taken free kick saw Rudd (it was announced) go over in the corner.  As an aside the lights at Kingston Park are worse than they used to be at the Mem in the early 80s and I really couldn't see who scored.  Wilkinson of course converted and Newcastle were 17 - 3 up.

They looked far more confident now and immediately took play back to an increasingly desperate Bristol.  With the game moving into the final quarter Newcastle gave away a penalty to hand Bristol a lineout.  The ball was won but then promptly kicked away for an easy and loud call of "Mark".  Debutant Vunga Lilo fielded the return kick and for an instant had the opportunity to show his pace and strength.  He was brought to ground but Bristol maintained possession.  However, it was their turn to move laterally before coughing up the ball by way of a knock-on.  Bristol went back on the attack and moved to within 5 metres of the line before, again, knocking-on.  Time was against Bristol and the Newcastle defence expertly ran time down.  David Lemi attempted to inject some pace with a quickly taken lineout but Newcastle were alert to the danger.  Despite Bristol's efforts Newcastle kept play in the Bristol half.  Ward-Smith had not despaired and made a fine run before he to succumbed to the curse of the knock-on.  Newcastle won a penalty as the clocked ticked down.  Wilkinson was called up and the ball went to touch.  The setup of the lineout used up still more time and the final award of a penalty saw the ball hoofed to touch and the conclusion of the game.

A bitter defeat for Bristol after the reported improvement against Sale.  In all honesty they looked unlikely to score throughout.  A tremendous physical effort was negated by a lack of confidence and, yes, of skill.  Tactically Bristol seemed to have few options and executed those poorly.  A few individuals tried their best, with Dan Ward-Smith continuing to approach his pre-injury peak and Scott Linklater secure in his throwing, defensively sound and powerful in the loose.  Indeed the lineout was much improved on last season, so it is particularly disappointing that Newcastle were able to win despite failing to function in this area.  This shows, I fear, the problems Bristol have away from the limited forward game.   Increasingly I agree with those who fail to see the benefit in recruiting John Brain.  I also worry about the lack of consistency in selection policy combined with an apparent absence of strategic and tactical thinking.  Even up here in the North East we hear rumours of discontent in the Bristol camp.  Are these the same issues that condemned Northampton to relegation?  On to Saracens who totally thumped Newcastle.  What a game to win.

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