Bristol blew Rotherham away… but are they ready for the big test?
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Powerhouse: Bristol's Junior Fatialofa batters his way through the Rotherham defence (Picture: Gary Bray/UNiCOM www.unicomsystems.co.uk)
Bristol Rugby 36 Rotherham Titans 10
By Ben Sturnham
A sparse crowd of barely four thousand were bathed in some glorious autumn sunshine at the Memorial Stadium, in the hope that Bristol could rekindle some form against lowly Rotherham. Previous performances had failed to impress and allowing Birmingham to within four points last weekend was beyond disappointing.
New names were the first noticeable change to Bristol’s starting line-up, with Matt Turner, Luke Arscott and Bertrand Bedes all making starts in their preferred positions. James Phillips, Bristol’s powerful number eight, also made a first appearance in the second row for the injured Nathan Budget.
Breaking through: Matt Turner scores for Bristol (Picture: Gary Bray/UNiCOM www.unicomsystems.co.uk)
After fourteen minutes, Bristol – with line-out supremacy – took a ball in the middle and proceeded to batter Rotherham backwards. The powerful drive took the pack to within five meters. Jason Spice spotted an undefended blind-side and popped the ball to Dan Norton, who skipped in and ran all the way round the dead ball area to place the ball down behind the posts. The extra effort made Adrian Jarvis’s conversion a formality, to give Bristol the perfect start.
Just three minutes later, a Rotherham overthrow at the line-out saw James Merriman run straight over fly half Johnny West and touch down from 25 meters.
Rotherham got themselves on the scoreboard on 25 minutes when Bristol, who seemed to struggle with a powerful Rotherham scrum, conceded a penalty for popping up. Johnny West duly converted the penalty, but after that it was all Bristol.
More points followed, as Bristol recycled well from a quick ruck and moved the ball wide to new wing Matt Turner. The South African-born winger showed great pace and footwork to beat his opposite number and tear in from 50 meters. Jarvis converted and Bristol were now really motoring away with a 17 – 3 lead.
Growing in confidence, the home side began to play more expansive rugby moving Rotherham from side to side with fast, recycled ball. Eventually, after several threatening phases Junior Fatialofa powered over to give Bristol the important bonus point score. Jarvis converted to take the score to 24-3.
Just before half time , some more multiphase play gave Dan Norton his second try of the afternoon. Jarvis missed the conversion, but Bristol went in at half time in full control of a lacklustre Rotherham, 29 – 3.
After the break, Rotherham came out with all guns firing and had Bristol under intense pressure for most of the early encounters. Rotherham wing Matt Farmer exploited lots of holes in Bristol’s defence and made yards at will. However, some strong defensive resistance met the visitors, predominantly lead by Bristol’s inspired flanker, Iain Grieve.
After a thumping tackle on a Rotherham player, Grieve picked up the dislodged ball and charged 20 meters out of Bristol’s 22. The move was continued with good hands and Bristol went the length, with Dan Montague eventually touching down.
A consolation try by Rotherham converted by West, was well deserved, but the visitors were well out of contention after the first half. The final score was a fair reflection on the game.
It will be interesting to see if Bristol can show their title credentials in what promises to be a mouth-watering affair against top of the table Bedford next weekend. Bristol’s injured second row forward, Nathan Budget, praised his teammates for “blowing Rotherham away in the first half and starving them of any ball”.
I am inclined to agree, but it will need more than 40 minutes to beat an in-form Bedford, who have not conceded a try so far this season.
Ben Sturnham is a former Bristol and England forward, now writing exclusively for Bristol24-7
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