BRISTOL’S 12-match winning run was ended – and their hopes of a GKIPA Championship and British Irish Cup double extinguished – as they were beaten in the cup semi-final by Leeds.
Bristol’s last three defeats in all competitions – over a period spanning five months and 21 matches – have all come against Leeds, who they could meet again in the Championship final.
It will be the Yorkshire side who face Leinster A in the BI Cup final in Dublin on May 23, after they edged Bristol in a game in which both teams scored four tries.
Bristol led for only four minutes of the match, as Leeds won at the Memorial Stadium for the second time this season. A mark of the magnitude of that achievement is that Bristol have won the other 14 matches they have played at home this term.
Bristol fielded a much-changed team, with Andy Robinson making 13 changes to the side that had beaten London Scottish eight days earlier, while youngsters Mark Cooke and Lucas Slowik were called into action from the bench earlier than anticipated.
Bristol led through Adam D’Arcy’s sixth-minute try – going over from Bryan Rennie’s pass after the home side had kicked a penalty to touch – before Leeds drew level on 10 minutes. Tristan Roberts’ pass was intercepted by Jonah Holmes, and Glyn Hughes kicked over the top for David Doherty to show his pace and make it 5-5.
Hughes gave Leeds the lead with a penalty, before Bristol’s Redford Pennycook and Leeds’ James Doyle were sin-binned in separate incidents. Leeds were a man down when Holmes extended their lead, taking Joe Barker’s pass after Rob Vickerman’s break as Bristol were opened up too easily.
Bristol trailed 15-10 at the break after the recalled Luke Eves found a gap to score from close range, but Leeds were the brighter starters after the break, and Chris Walker went over following a period of pressure to increase their lead to 22-10.
Bristol needed a quick response – and it arrived when half-time replacement Lucas Slowik powered over following Ruki Tipuna’s quick tap and Ross Johnston’s pass. That made it 22-17 – and, when Johnston was driven over from a line-out after James Doherty was sin-binned, the game was level.
Leeds restored their lead when they kicked a penalty to touch and built the phases, with Barker putting Doyle in to make it 27-22.
Bristol kicked a rare penalty to make it 27-25 – but, despite knocking at the door, they could not break it down, and Leeds put the seal on their victory when replacement Jonny Bentley knocked over a late penalty.
Bristol: A D’Arcy; R Edwards (M Cooke 14), B Rennie (L Slowik 41), L Eves, C Amesbury; T Roberts, R Tipuna (C Braley 58); K Traynor (E Genge 62), R Johnston (O Hayes 62), J Hall (J Hobson 62), J Joyce, G Townson, I Grieve (M Sambucetti 40), R Pennycook, B Skirving (capt).
Scorers: Tries – D’Arcy, Eves, Slowik, Johnston. Con – Roberts. Pen – Roberts.
Sin-binned: Pennycook (26-37).
Leeds: C Georgiou; J Holmes, R Vickerman, J Barker, D Doherty; G Hughes (J Bentley 68), J Doherty; L Imiolek (C Beech 27), J Walker (D Baines 67), P Hill (J Currie 67), M Smith, C Green (N Hannay 54), H Casson (J Barnard 58), C Walker, J Doyle. Rep not used: M Dudman.
Scorers: Tries – D Doherty, Holmes, C Walker, Doyle. Cons – Hughes (2). Pens – Hughes, Bentley.
Sin-binned: Doyle (34-41), J Doherty (53-67).
Referee: G Conway. Att: 3,832.
Article source: http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/rugby-league-gentle-brushes-krs-spin-121826904.html
FULL-TIME: Bristol Rugby 25 Leeds Carnegie 30
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