By Duncan Wood
September 25 2002

Bristol United had to dig quite deep before easing away from Plymouth. Andrew Higgins was the Bristol player who caught the eye and he must be in contention for the first XV against Leicester this weekend.

Bristol got off to the best possible start with a try after only about 40 seconds through Shane Drahm who duly added the conversion.

It took a little while for the try score to come as Plymouth defended doggedly putting their bodies on the line to prevent further Bristol scores. However, Lee Best came into the line to finish off one move and then James Bailey marked his United debut by finishing well in the corner. The tries were converted by Drahm and Carrington.

Plymouth were competing very well and it was far from easy. They were rewarded with a penlalty of their own and a well deserved try when they kicked a penalty to the corner and James Hart went over from the catch and drive.

21-3 at half time but the star of the show already was Andrew Higgins who had made several strong breaks and looked in very good nick. Also prominent was Lee Best who was also encouraging the youngsters around him.

It was much harder work in the second half as Bristol's superior strength and fitness told and Plymouth rarely got out of their own half. Steve Pape crashed over from close range to mark his United debut with a try, Lee Best fought his way over for another score and there were further tries from Craig Short and a fine effort from Tom Luke who showed great strength to fight his way to the line.

Andrew Higgins was again superb in the second half and really deserved a score but it wasn't quite to be. The two U21s in the second row, Matt Styles and Steve Pape, acquitted themselves well and Rhys Oakley and Chris Morgan did a solid job in the back row.

Shane Drahm did a good job without ever trying anything too ambitious and Matt Carrington looked very lively especially as the game wore on and he had a very tidy last quarter at outside half.

A solid performance all in all with the bonus being that Higgins and Best both came through and looked good.