By Dan Small
April 13 2014

Bristol effectively killed off this game inside the first quarter scoring four unanswered tries. Thereafter, aside from one admittedly successful attack, it was all Moseley. Given the number of penalties given away in the second half it is surprising that only Mosses was shown yellow. The lack of control and poor discipline must surely be a concern to the coaching team.

Bristol started the game at blistering pace, Andy Short opening the scoring after just four minutes after a neatly angled kick ahead from Nicky Robinson.  Robinson’s conversion effort wasn’t quite so accurate and it struck the upright.  But the visiting side stretched further ahead with fullback Jack Wallace linking well with a forward drive.  This time Robinson made no mistake.

Bristol continued to press and the Moseley defence was shifted all over the pitch before the ball was shifted quickly right to set up a three to two overlap.  Mark Sorenson reached out to score his first try for the club.  Robinson converted and then set up the bonus point try with an excellent break and good passing to allow Short in for his second and a leads of  0 – 26 with less than a quarter played.

Bristol might be excused for relaxing but it took an inspirational try from former Bristol winger Matt Williams who showed both speed and guile to slice through the defence for a converted try.  As our editor has pointed out several times: why, given our avowed intention to play an expansive attacking game, did Bristol ever let him go?

But that try seemed to give the hosts belief and they came out transformed in the second half.  First a penalty made it 10 – 26.  Bristol were stung and riposted immediately with a good converted try.  Unlike the Rotherham game in which Bristol tightened the game up when threatened and controlled the ball to prevent the opposition staging a comeback, this was the last flicker of the attacking verve that had stunned Moseley in the first half.  And also the last vestige of control.

Initially things looked good for Bristol with home replacement Lawrence shown yellow almost as soon as he set foot on the pitch, but could take nothing from the numerical advantage.  On Lawrence’s return, Ben Mosses was shown yellow, and the hosts showed how things should be done.

Oli Robinson (far too many Robinson’s involved) powered his way over in the corner for a well converted try.  They also showed how a catch-and-drive move should be executed (Bristol had driven for maybe 20 metres before a clumsy knock-on from Jason Hobson negated all the hard work) and replacement Warren touched down for another converted try.  Despite the visiting side giving away a shower of penalties in the second half, they had done enough to stagger over the line and record a first victory at Billesley Common.