GEORGE Watkins dived over in the corner off the final play of the game – with Adrian Jarvis converting – to secure two bonus points for Bristol in a match where they had looked set to finish empty-handed.
The in-form Watkins – Bristol’s most clinical finisher – grabbed his second try of the game, to add to scores from Kyle Traynor and Mitch Eadie, and rescue two bonus points for his beaten team.
But Bristol were made to pay for a number of missed tackles as Leeds, who grabbed a bonus point themselves, raced into a 21-5 lead in the first half as they gave their hosts a master-class in finishing.
Bristol had battered the Leeds line for the opening 12 minutes – twice being held up over the line – but emerged without any points to show for their efforts. They then saw Leeds score off all of their first three attacks as Bristol were again made to pay for their wastefulness.
Fred Burdon opened the scoring from Leeds’ first attack, which started when skipper Jacob Rowan stole possession and ended with centre Burdon taking prop James Currie’s pass and diving over.
Watkins hit back for Bristol, receiving Ruki Tipuna’s excellent long pass and scoring in the corner, after Ben Skirving had fed his No 9 from a scrum.
But Leeds, who had soaked up an incredible amount of pressure in the opening exchanges, again showed their ruthlessness in attack when David Doherty’s cross-field kick was gathered by Jonah Holmes, who beat Tristan Roberts and Charlie Amesbury to score under the posts.
Leeds stunned the Memorial Stadium into near silence when Holmes grabbed his second, and his team’s third try, five minutes later. They attacked at pace down the left, with Steve McColl breaking, exchanging passes with Doherty, and playing in Holmes – who is on loan from Wasps – to score a third Leeds try.
Bristol responded when prop Kyle Traynor powered over from Marco Mama’s pass – but they trailed 21-10 at half-time.
That became 28-10 12 minutes after the restart when, from a Leeds scrum, scrum-half Craig Hampson carved Bristol opened with a powerful break, then fed prop Ben Harris, via flanker James Doyle, and the loosehead dived over to seal his team’s bonus point.
Bristol were offered a lifeline when Rowan saw yellow for going off his feet as Bristol battered the Leeds line – and replacement Mitch Eadie tapped, went, and powered over to score his side’s third try.
With time running out and Bristol looking as if they would finish the afternoon without anything to show for their efforts, they kept the ball for a multitude of phases before Amesbury played in Watkins, who dived over in the corner. That guaranteed one bonus point – and Jarvis made sure of the second.
Bristol: A D’Arcy; G Watkins, B Rennie (A Short 58), L Eves, C Amesbury; T Roberts (A Jarvis 52), R Tipuna (C Braley 55); K Traynor, R Lawrence, J Hall (G Cortes 55), B Glynn (G Townson 50), M Sorenson (capt), M Mama, J Merriman, B Skirving (M Eadie 55). Rep not used: O Hayes.
Scorers: Tries – Watkins (2), Traynor, Eadie. Con – Jarvis.
Leeds: S McColl; J Holmes, J Griffin, F Burdon, D Doherty; G Hughes, C Hampson; B Harris (S Lockwood 62), P Nilsen, J Currie (L Imiolek 62), N Hannay (M Smith 71), C Green, R Beck, J Doyle (C Walker 71), J Rowan (capt). Reps not used: J Graham, A Lozowski, O Goss.
Scorers: Tries – Burdon, Holmes (2), Harris. Cons – Hughes (4).
Sin-binned: Rowan (59-71, going off his feet).
Referee: G McDonald. Att: 5,029.
Article source: http://www1.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12504/9048460/england-wing-marland-yarde-set-to-undergo-hip-surgery
Bristol Rugby 22 Leeds Carnegie 28: Bristol rescue two late bonus points but ...
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