Bristol overcome red and yellow cards to edge past Exeter

Bristol overcame the loss of a 20-minute red card for Scotland international Tom Jordan to record a hard-fought 18-14 Gallagher PREM victory at Ashton Lane.

Jordan was dismissed for a high challenge and their already injury-ravaged side were further hit by failed HIA’s for three-quarters Josh Carrington and Jack Bates.

However they still triumphed with tries from Bill Mata and Gabriel Oghre, while Sam Worsley kicked a penalty and a conversion, with Jordan adding a penalty.

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Ben Hammersley and Henry Slade scored Exeter’s tries, with Slade adding the extras.

Exeter made a poor start with Ethan Roots fumbling the kick-off and from the resulting scrum, his side were penalised as Jordan put the hosts in front.

Slade should have soon nullified this but his 35-metre penalty attempt sailed wide before the home side suffered a blow when their wing, a dazed Carrington, was led off after coming off second best in a collision with Immanuel Feyi-Waboso.

Bristol had the first try-scoring opportunity but could not take it as Bates failed to collect Jordan’s well-judged kick with the line beckoning.

Jordan’s score was the only one of a well-contested first quarter, which had few thrills as neither side had any attacking flow to their game.

A couple of kicking errors from Jordan were not helping Bristol’s cause but after 24 minutes, they recorded the first try when skilful passing and off-loads created the space for Mata to run 30 metres down the right-hand touchline and score.

Exeter’s response was swift when clean breaks from Harvey Skinner and Hammersley were the catalyst for Slade to run in under the posts.

The hosts suffered two further setbacks when first Jordan was red carded for a high challenge on Chiefs number eight Ross Vintcent, who after treatment departed to fail an HIA before Hammersley slipped two tackles for an excellent individual try.

Slade converted and his side took a 14-8 lead into the break.

Scrum-half Oscar Lennon was introduced to replace Jordan at the end of the stipulated 20-minute period and his first action was to try and secure a touchdown in the corner but two defenders held him up.

However Bristol were not to be denied as they collected their second try when Oghre finished off a driving line-out with replacement Worsley knocking over the touchline conversion to give them a one-point lead going into the final quarter.

Another Bristol replacement Max Pepper was yellow carded for a deliberate knock-on which resulted in huge pressure being placed on the home side as they could not break out of their own 22.

Remarkably Pepper returned with no damage to the scoreboard and the home side were able to hang on for a fortunate victory, with Worsley succeeding with a last-minute penalty to rub salt into Exeter’s wounds.