Sheedy claims 19 points as Bristol return to winning ways against Gloucester
Bristol ended a run of three successive Gallagher Premiership defeats by sweeping aside west country rivals Gloucester 34-16 at Ashton Gate.
Welshman Callum Sheedy was the victory architect, kicking 19 points, including the conversion of wing Henry Purdy’s try against his former club.
Full-back Luke Morahan confirmed a comprehensive win by touching down 11 minutes from time as Bristol were rewarded for their relentless pressure.
And substitute Mat Protheroe added a third Bristol try – again converted by Sheedy – to put the seal on an impressive display.
Owen Williams booted three penalties for Gloucester, while Billy Twelvetrees converted Freddie Clarke’s late try, but they failed to close the gap on second-placed Northampton after being outgunned in most departments as an 18,700 crowd roared its approval.
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Gloucester’s Wales Six Nations hopeful wing Louis Rees-Zammit was a bystander for much of the action, barely receiving a pass. And it was that kind of afternoon for Gloucester, as Bristol worked them out to deliver one of their most convincing Premiership performances this term.
Former Gloucester prop John Afoa returned for Bristol following a two-week injury absence, while centre Piers O’Conor was back following knee trouble.
Gloucester were without England Six Nations squad members Willi Heinz and Ollie Thorley, with Wales international Williams replacing injured fly-half Danny Cipriani and making his first start since January last year.
Managing director Mick Hogan isn’t blaming @Saracens for the trauma @FalconsRugby are enduring in the Championship… but he tells @heagneyl it still leaves a sour taste belatedly finding out a @premrugby rival cheated last seasonhttps://t.co/CfYiZmovYZ
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 25, 2020
Bristol’s last league victory came in mid-November when they won at current league leaders Exeter, but they started with plenty of intent.
Morahan and lock Chris Vui both found gaps in Gloucester’s defence, and the visitors were made to work hard during an opening 10 minutes that Bristol dominated.
Sheedy then booted Bristol into a 13th-minute lead, landing a penalty following Gloucester number eight Ben Morgan’s deliberate knock-on, but Williams landed an equalising strike just three minutes later.
Chiefs upset at home https://t.co/Dp1bJCpR73
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 25, 2020
Sheedy restored Bristol’s advantage after another Morgan infringement, yet once again Bristol were unable to protect that lead as Williams kicked a second equalising penalty.
Referee Karl Dickson readily punished both sides for their indiscretions, and it was no surprise when Sheedy gained another penalty chance that he duly accepted, edging Bristol back in front twelve minutes before half-time.
And the goalkicking monopoly showed no sign of being broken, with Williams also completing a penalty hat-trick, before two further Sheedy penalties opened up a 15-9 interval advantage.
The Scottish veteran is taking a punt on the ProD2 https://t.co/r3mBFFA01n
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 25, 2020
Bristol, despite monopolising possession, found it hard work breaking down a well-organised Gloucester defence, but Sheedy readily punished the visitors’ indiscipline.
The home side required just four minutes of the second half to find a way through, though, and it was Purdy – on loan at Bristol from Championship outfit Coventry – who struck.
His fellow wing Alapati Leiua made an initial break, flanker Dan Thomas acted as a strong link-man and Purdy finished off by breaking three tackles to touch down.
Sheedy’s successful touchline conversion opened up a 13-point lead, and Gloucester had it all to do, but their misery continued when full-back Jason Woodward limped off.
Bristol’s forwards turned up the heat during a one-sided final quarter, forcing Gloucester back through some impressive close-quarter work.
They forced a number of scrums within sight of Gloucester’s line, and when the ball was eventually moved wide, Morahan finished off for a second Bristol try.
Gloucester were now battered beyond and repair and Bristol cruised past 30 points when a sweeping move ended in Protheroe touching down and Sheedy adding the extras, with Purdy’s 80th-minute sin-binning having no effect on the contest.
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Comments on RugbyPass
Wasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
3 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
3 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
3 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
30 Go to comments