By Ian Todd
December 14 2013

Bristol stumbled to a poor home defeat in which poor defending and a fatal lack of precision in the 'red zone' highlighted just how far the side have to progress in order to win promotion.  The visitors scored with virtually every visit to the Bristol half.  In contrat Bristol spent the entire first 15 minutes of the first half inside the Leeds' 22 without claiming any points whatsoever.  I applaud the ideas behind Bristol's policy on kicking penalties, but fail to see why we apply it so rigidly in the face of what is actually happening on the pitch.  A tiny bit of variety is all I ask!

Bristol kicked off the game and showed strong attacking intent right from the off.  An early try looked on the cards when Bryan Rennie made a powerful run down the left, but the defence was equal to the task with three tacklers forcing the centre into touch just short of the line.

Bristol continued with what is starting to become a slightly controversial policy of kicking virtually all penalties to touch.  It is all very well to talk of peaking for the play-offs, but we actually need to be in them and are now in fifth place.  Leeds must have conceded three or four penalties for every one that Bristol did.  Surely kicking a few at the posts might have made them think a bit more about being constantly offside?  Or why not take the option of a scrum?  We were clearly dominant in that area.  In any event Bristol persisted in going for touch and were held up three times over the line.  Then Bristol’s play broke down in the opposition 22 and they raced into the Bristol half.  Quick passing and woeful tackling saw Burdon in under the posts and it was 0 – 7 despite Bristol spending the first 15 minutes of the game camped in the Leeds’ 22.

Bristol struck back with a good effort from George Watkins who was the recipient of an excellent miss pass from Ruki Tipuna, and he ducked two attempted tackles to touch down in the corner for an unconverted try.  However, more poor defending allowed Leeds right back into the game when a well-directed cross-field kick was seized by Holmes.  Tristan Roberts made a valiant effort to hold him up, but Holmes was too strong for the smallest man on the pitch and Charlie Amesbury’s effort was very poor.  The try was converted and the visitors were at 5 – 14 from just their second visit to the Bristol 22.

Things went from bad to worse for the hosts when Holmes coasted in for his second with the defence hopelessly disjointed.  Fortunately, just be half time Kyle Traynor showed immense determination to power through two tacklers to touch down out wide in on the left.  The conversion was missed to leave the score at 10 – 21.  Half time saw an excellent in-depth interview with Dewi Morris.  However, that was before the cameras were on, so instead we had Ian and Ben explaining about Idiot’s Corner and how the Bristol defence was rubbish.

 

The Bristol defence was caught out again early in the second half when Harris bullocked his way through some feeble tackles and with a Bristol defender virtually dragged over the line whilst pathetically clutching at his shorts.  Bristol managed to stick to their guns and worked their way into the Leeds’ half.  Some patient build up (and some penalties to touch) culminated in an attacking lineout.  The pack drove close and finally the referee reached for the yellow card as the visitors conceded one penalty too many.  A quick tap penalty from the alert replacement Mitch Eadie saw him power low over the line.  The conversion attempt from Adrian Jarvis was judged to have gone wide, but from my angle it did look as if it was just inside the posts.

Leeds took play back to Bristol and only a series of handling errors prevented them from putting Bristol under greater pressure.  With time virtually up Bristol struggled to break down a resolute and well organised defence.  Yet another kick to touch from a penalty lead to a penalty for Leeds, but the lineout went Bristol’s way and the gradually worked their way back.  It took an age, with the ball being worked from side to side, slowly making ground before the ball went out to Watkins about five metres out.  Once again he went for the line.  The TMO was called into action but he swiftly decided the try was good and Jarvis converted superbly to give Bristol two bonus points.