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| Bristol 32 Swansea 0 | ||
| An excellent afternoon for Bristol, as old rivals Swansea were roundly beaten putting to rest a few ghosts from last season. The fluid team play, a vast improvement form last week, demonstrates an increased understanding of the game from the new boys. Particularly encouraging was the fact that only one penalty was conceded throughout the whole game and despite several determined Swansea attacks Bristol kept a 'virgin sheet and virtuous line.'
Bristol won the toss and opted to attack down hill. The first half defence was of a superb standard, particularly hits from Tom Curtis. A large number of tackles made by the markers and the Bristol defensive lines advancing in good order stopped Swansea making any serious threat to the Bristol line. Dave Bohm was on superb kicking form; the small size of the pitch allowed both sides to make use of the forty-twenty rule, rarely applied to games where pitches are not clearly marked, and Bohm was able to hit some excellent kicks into the Swansea 20 zone. Aggressive running by John Parker and Brendan Cook broke tackles and returned Bristol to an attacking field position. Tries in the first half also came from Bohm, Sedgley and Klijn after some excellent attacking play; runners ran Bristol into the Swansea half and some good off loading before and in the tackles accounted for most of the tries. The last try of the half came from Chris Harper after Ed Tofts passed the ball from the base of the tackle and the ball |
was spread to a Bristol open-side overlap. Good hands in front of the rush defence from Adam Clarke and James Sedgley moved the ball to Harper who dived over unopposed. Swann's conversion brought the score to 18-0 at half time.
Attacking up the hill after the break Bristol managed two tries in the second half. Swansea's play lifted after the break and they made several dangerous breaks. Cover tackling from fullback James Sedgley and wingers Sean Atkins and Martin Klijn closed down the danger, and on one occasion Curtis sprinted back to make a tackle after a clever Swansea midfield move broke through Bristol's line. Sean Atkins also did some good work in the second half, after an Ian Baggs kick, to make a tackle in the Swansea twenty and keep the opposition pinned in their own half for their attacking set. Tofts scored the last try of the day after another Bristol attack, diving over from close range. Swann converted to make the final score 32 - 0. Despite the win Bristol still need to work on their attacking options, but the new team have come together quickly after just three weeks, particularly forming an enviable defence that will be tested next week in the first away game of the season against Exeter. Article by Bristol University RL
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