By Ian Todd
March 5 2014

Amid all the excitement I took no notes because my pencil broke! But it was a ruthless first half display from Bristol who came away with a try from virtually every visit to the Plymouth half. Plymouth had at least three chances of their own before Bristol had scored their second, but failed to score on each occasion. One side takes everything on offer, the other doesn't.

It was a fine display of rugby in the first half; from both sides it must be said.  However, it was Bristol that had by far the better of things in the blustery conditions.  Andy Short got things underway with a try from Bristol’s first visit to the opposition half with just minutes played.  Plymouth looked to strike back quickly and had at least three chances that they made a total mess of with the try line begging, dropping the ball, missing a glaring overlap and one fine piece of defending from Jack Wallace who ripped the ball out of the attackers grasp.

It looked as if the opening try had been something of a false dawn after this concerted onslaught.  But in a stunning period of play Bristol knocked the stuffing out of Plymouth with three quick-fire tries in almost as many minutes and from exactly that number of forays into the Plymouth half.  Marco Mama, George Watkins and Short again brought up the try-scoring bonus point in double quick time.  It was hard to say who was most taken aback the visiting side or the home support.  A quickly taken lineout to Nicky Robinson and a wonderful long touchfinder were all part of the incisive skills on display in one of the most ruthless displays from Bristol in a long time.  Plymouth’s misery was compounded with a dazzling effort from Watkins down the right wing that left the defence grasping at shadows.  Wow.

And then, just on half time former Bristol favourite Rhys Oakley smashed over beneath the posts for a converted try to leave the score at a breathless Memorial Ground standing at 31 – 7.

Most of this took place at the other end of the ground from me.  Naturally I stayed put hoping to witness more try scoring magic.  Well I was in for some disappointment on that front, truth be told.  At first it looked like Bristol would keep up the intensity when Watkins chipped ahead and outraced the last defender, but the ball went dead as he slid through the mud in his effort to touch down.

Bristol started to kick a surprisingly large amount of possession away and Plymouth made the most of it to keep the hosts under pressure. But Bristol’s defence was equal to the task and dealt with attack after attack.  Plymouth were then cut apart by replacement Adam Hughes and Jack Wallace showed great strength and speed to cross out wide on the right.  Robinson converted superbly.  Bristol had time for another try from excellent driving forward play.  The pack drove over the line and the referee was unable to see the grounding amid the pile of bodies.  It was hard to see how Bristol could not have scored, but Plymouth had shown earlier that a simple error can cost a side dear.  Fortunately the assistant referee had his wits about him and advised his colleague that Mama had scored his second of the game.  At the very death Plymouth had the last word when Saunders was alert enough to pounce when the ball went loose at a ruck near the Bristol line.  It left the final score at 43 – 12.