Bristol have lost the fear factor as Exeter wreck 100% start to the season
By 
Dan Norton: Try brought the scores level (Picture: Gary Bray/UNiCOM www.unicomsystems.co.uk)
Bristol Rugby 26 Exeter 35
By Ben Sturnham
An emphatic Exeter win took the Chiefs to the top of the Championship table, ruining Bristol’s 100% record in the process. Exeter thoroughly deserved their away victory and were unlucky not to score more tires, in what was a great rugby spectacle at the Memorial Stadium.
Bristol conceded two early penalties, which the impressive Exeter fly half Gareth Steenson gladly converted, to give the visitors an early six-point lead. From an excellent attacking position, Bristol’s Adrian Jarvis attempted a chip kick, which was charged down. Exeter ran the length, with Matt Cornwall eventually scoring under the posts. Steenson converted to take the visitors into a 16-0 lead.
Bristol could only respond from pressurising the Exeter scrum, which led to a Jarvis penalty to get the home side onto the scoreboard. Exeter continued to pile on the pressure with a second try, this time with some excellent slow ball routines from their forwards. Steenson converted to take the visitors into the break with a comprehensive 23- 6 lead.
Only a stonking hit from Bristol flanker Iain Grieve stopped Exeter from scoring a third try immediately after half time. More powerful scrummaging from Bristol prop Mark Irish gave Jarvis another penalty to begin the fightback.
Junior Fatialofa: Scorer (Picture: Gary Bray/UNiCOM)
The game suddenly ignited into a try bonanza, with three successive scores. Bristol centre Junior Fatialofa powered over for the first and Dan Norton touched down, four minutes later, for Bristol’s second. Jarvis converted both tries to bring the two sides level and delight the home crowd.
With the momentum firmly in Bristol’s favour, a home win was by far the most likely outcome, but Exeter were not intimidated and responded immediately, with a lovely sweeping move, finished off by Phil Dollman. Steenson missed the conversion and, after another collapsed Exeter scrum, Jarvis’s long-range penalty, hauled Bristol back to within two points.
But the final moments belonged to Exeter, with former Bristol player Hayden Thomas injecting pace and purpose into continued Exeter attacks. Eventually, Exeter replacement hooker Simon Alcott dived over from close range. Steenson added the conversion, to make the final score 35-26.
Speaking after the game Iain Grieve told Bristol24-7: “I’m gutted to have lost in the last ten minutes, after levelling the scores. Losing without a bonus point was very disappointing.”
Bristol certainly created several chances early on and had enough possession to win the game, but were very lateral and often clumsy with their attacks. The scrum was dominant, but that alone will not see them win the important games in this league. Fitness may have also played a factor in the final periods, with Exeter looking the fresher and more enthusiastic of the two teams.
I wonder if Bristol have lost their fear factor and possibly some self-belief, in a defeat that has been on the cards since the start of the season. Jason Spice lacked energy, Dan Montagu is very predictable and Exeter flanker James Scasbrook won the contest on the floor.
Next week, Bristol face an uncomfortable trip to Penzance. The Cornish Pirates have won four out of five and based on today’s performance could well fancy themselves to inflict another blow to Bristol’s promotion hopes.
Ben Sturnham is a former Bristol and England forward, now writing exclusively for Bristol24-7
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