BRISTOL fought back from 14-0, 17-15 and 24-22 down to secure a dramatic late victory at Meadow Lane as Nicky Robinson held his nerve to land an injury-time penalty.
Bristol had appeared to be on course for a surprise defeat, with Nottingham being awarded a penalty try seven minutes into injury-time, but Robinson was on target from 35 metres in the 13th additional minute to win the game.
Both sides scored three tries in a game that was both scrappy and fiercely contested, with Ross Rennie grabbing two for Bristol, who were also awarded a penalty try.
Nottingham led 14-5 at the break, stunning their higher-placed opponents by scoring two tries to take a 14-0 lead, before Rennie hit back to get Bristol on the scoreboard.
In an error-strewn, at times chaotic, opening half, Nottingham made more of their opportunities as Bristol struggled to turn their regular visits to the home 22 into points.
Nottingham grabbed their first try when, after Bristol had knocked on and then conceded a penalty, the hosts kicked to touch, drove, and, with referee John Meredith playing advantage, scrum-half Sean Romans freed winger Ryan Hough, who evaded a couple of would-be tackles to score. Matthew Jarvis converted to make it 7-0.
Bristol’s inability to turn territory and possession into points was punished again when Nottingham drove a line-out from the 22 to five metres out – and, much with the opening try, Romans took possession, dummied, and played in the onrushing Joe Munro, who dived over. Again, Jarvis converted for a 14-0 lead.
Bristol hit straight back, going close through the middle, and then driving Rennie over from a line-out after they sent a penalty to touch, to make it 14-5 at the break.
That became 14-12 when Bristol were quite bafflingly awarded a penalty try off a line-out drive, before Adrian Jarvis kicked the visitors in front as they opted to kick a rare penalty when Alex Shaw saw yellow.
Jarvis’s opposite number, also called Jarvis, kicked Nottingham back in front, before Rennie ran a smart supporting line and received Robinson’s pass to crash over for a 22-17 lead.
But, following a long delay as home hooker Alun Walker was carried off on a stretcher – and Glen Townson’s yellow card – Nottingham were given an equally puzzling penalty try as Bristol thwarted their drive.
That saw the hosts lead 24-22 – but Robinson kept his cool in the dying seconds following a penalty at a scrum.
Nottingham: E Styles; O Woodburn, A Molloy (R Lynn 73), J Munro, R Hough; M Jarvis, S Romans; R Bower (C Ma’afu 73), A Walker (J Vickers 80), M Holford (H Williams 65), T Freeman, D Montagu, W Skuse, B Wilson (capt), A Shaw. Reps not used: N Keogh, H Lee-Everton, R Cooper.
Scorers: Tries – Hough, Munro, penalty. Cons – Jarvis (3). Pen – Jarvis.
Sin-binned: Shaw (53-65).
Bristol: J Wallace; G Watkins, L Eves, B Mosses, A Short; A Jarvis (N Robinson 64), J Grindal (C Braley 54); K Traynor, R Johnston, J Hall (G Cortes 71), B Glynn, M Sorenson (capt; G Townson 71), M Eadie, R Rennie, B Skirving (I Grieve 64). Reps not used: R Lawrence, C Amesbury.
Scorers: Tries – Rennie (2), penalty. Cons– Jarvis, Robinson. Pens – Jarvis, Robinson.
Sin-binned: Townson (80).
Referee: J Meredith. Att: 1,305.
Article source: http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/rugby-league-five-championship-141509579--spt.html
FULL-TIME: Nottingham 24 Bristol Rugby 25
No comments:
Post a Comment