Leeds Badge

By Hazel Smith
September 18 2011

A losing bonus point was scant consolation for Bristol, as their winning start to the new season came to an end against Leeds. The only try of the game gave Bristol lead at half-time but Leeds took control of the second half as Bristol's discipline fell apart. A first win of the season for the hosts was a fair reward for their efforts.

In slightly overcast conditions Bristol kicked off the action and were quickly penalised give Leeds a shot at the posts from inside their own half. A great start from Ford to put his side in front. Bristol tried to hit back and a great rolling maul made tremendous ground before Leeds were penalised. Tristan Roberts was spot-on to equalise after just a few minutes played.

Bristol attacked from the restart and launched a lovely move from their own line and only a foot in touch from Matt Williams halted Bristol's advance downfield. Bristol kept up the pressure and were rewarded with a penalty which Roberts dispatched touch. Bristol drove well from the lineout, over the line and try from Ross Johnston. Roberts struck the post with his conversion effort, but Bristol lead 3-8 as the rain started to fall.

Bristol seemed confident but then conceded a soft penalty, from which Ford made a fine touch. Leeds took on Bristol up front but Josh Ovens seized the ball in the maul to set Bristol moving forward and frustrate Leeds' efforts. Bristol resorted to a kicking game as they sought to push the hosts back, but failed to make much of things and Leeds ended up in a good attacking position 5 m out. Bristol were penalised and Leeds decided to scrum, but Bristol got the nudge on and won a penalty. Bristol's Roberts cleared touch.

Bristol attacked from the lineout but Williams as well shepherded by the defence and forced into touch. A series of reset scrums resulted in a Bristol penalty. Roberts went to the posts and extended the lead to 3-11.

An aimless kicking duel followed before Leeds finally made touch. The hosts managed to put together an attacking midfield but a knock-on let Bristol off. A nice break from Tom Slater moved play on, but the ball from the breakdown was far too slow and the defence regroup as the half drew to a close.

Leeds looked determined to make more of a contest in the second half, with only a small deficit to overcome. A penalty to touch setup good attacking position for the hosts. The drive to the line was illegally hauled down and the Bristol forwards were warned by the referee. Bristol struggled to hold out in the face of great pressure, but Ovens managed to get a boot in to knock the ball away from the line. Still Leeds kept up the pressure, but with the ball move wide Leeds struggled to find a way through. Junior Fatialofa managed to disrupt the Leeds move but when the ball was shipped out to Williams he was penalised two give Ford the kick of the posts and a 6-11 scoreline.

Robbie Shaw now came on for his Leeds debut, and a warm welcome from the Bristol support! Bristol tried to hit back at Leeds and worked their way up to the try line before giving away a sloppy penalty with a try begging. The number of replacements seemed, as usual, to herald some pretty unstructured and frenetic play. A penalty to Bristol gave Roberts the chance to calm things down but he was off target, and even more replacements came on from both sides.

Bristol tried to impose some shape on the game. Fatialofa made a good break, the ball shipped onto James Merriman, who failed to spot Williams outside him. A penalty went to Bristol but surprisingly, they went for a quick tap, rather than for touch. Perhaps infected by the slightly frenzied atmosphere? The move broke down with a knock-on from Jack Tovey. Bristol managed to get back in possession but struggled to make much headway and were turned over to let Leeds get back into the Bristol half. A George Watkins error gave Ford another penalty chance, and he made no mistake to make it 9-11. Bristol really needed to calm things down if they were to take back control of the match.

Instead, another foolish penalty let Ford make touch just outside the Bristol 22, but good play from Iain Grieve disrupted the Leeds lineout. However, stupid indiscipline then allowed Leeds a free kick and the hosts took full advantage when the ball was swept back to Ford who sent over a sweetly struck drop goal for 12-11.

Bristol had the chance to get into the Leeds half but Roberts failed to make touch with a penalty effort. It looked unlikely that Bristol could make anything with time running out and rain pouring down. Another penalty went to touch. Secure lineout possession from replacement Darren Berry set up good attacking position but sadly the ball was lost forward of the game came to a close.