Bristol hold on for hard-fought Premiership victory over Worcester
Bristol celebrated a third-straight Gallagher Premiership win with a hard-fought 13-10 victory over a spirited Worcester at Ashton Gate.
After wins over Gloucester and Northampton in recent weeks, Bears consolidated their top-four position but manager Pat Lam will be concerned at how wasteful they were, which allowed Worcester to remain in the game longer than they might have done.
Luke Morahan crossed over for Bristol with Callum Sheedy adding a conversion and two penalties.
Nick David responded with a try for Worcester which Duncan Weir successfully converted, while Scott Van Breda added a penalty.
Worcester made a horrendous start when Duncan Weir fumbled the kick-off before number eight Cornell Du Preez knocked on as he tried to retrieve the outside half’s error.
Continue reading below…
WATCH: Wales post-match press conference with head coach Wayne Pivac and captain Alun Wyn Jones after 27-23 Guinness Six Nations defeat to France in Cardiff.
It should have proved costly as Warriors were subjected to a barrage of early pressure but the hosts declined a number of kickable penalties and were not clinical enough to capitalise on their decision.
It was obvious that Bristol had a mindset to move the ball at every opportunity but in the first 20 minutes, they were frenetic with too many forced passes not going to hand.
The opening quarter was therefore scoreless with Worcester having one of the better opportunities to score but full-back Jamie Shillcock’s pass failed to find Ted Hill, with the flanker having an unopposed run to the line.
Bristol looked to have learnt their lesson to take the points on offer when Sheedy put them in front with a 50-metre penalty after 22 minutes.
Warriors then suffered an injury blow when centre Ashley Beck departed with a shoulder problem and almost immediately suffered a further setback when Bears scored the opening try.
Scrum-half Harry Randall quickly took a tap penalty to combine with Charles Piutau, whose pass sent Morahan in under the posts. Sheedy’s conversion gave his side a deserved 10-0 interval lead.
PLAYER RATINGS
– @alexshawsport 👨💻rates the English players #ENGvIRE https://t.co/kgNJJ9lscO
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 23, 2020
Within two minutes of the restart, Worcester responded with an excellent try.
From inside their own half, Ollie Lawrence began the breakout before a strong run down the left flank by replacement Van Breda provided the opportunity to send David over.
Du Preez was sin-binned for a high challenge on Sheedy but even then, Bristol could not capitalise and – with 12 minutes remaining – Van Breda brought the scores level with a 45-metre penalty.
Du Preez returned but Andrew Kitchener soon replaced him in the bin for a deliberate offside – which gave Sheedy the chance to kick the decisive penalty.
There was still time for Sheedy to miss with his next effort before Chris Vui lost possession in the process of crashing over.
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
45 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
45 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
45 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
45 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
45 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
45 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
45 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments