BRISTOL coach Sean Holley has blasted the play-off system in the Greene King IPA Championship, branding it 'fundamentally wrong'.

Bristol grabbed a place back in the Aviva Premiership with a 60-47 play-off final  victory over two legs against Doncaster Knights, despite losing 34-32 on Wednesday night.

The West Country side have lost three pervious play-off finals and Holley says the system needs to be scrapped.

"When you finish the top team by a mile and then you have to play the fourth-placed team and beat them and then go again to their place and do it again and twice in the final, it is fundamentally wrong," said Holley.

"There is no competition in the  world that is like it. It might make good TV but it doesn't make for good playing.

"I think it seriously has to be looked at. We played a semi-final (Bedford Blues) who didn't want to go to the Premiership. How does that work?"

Holley said it was an emotional journey, however, as he and director of rugby Andy Robinson wandered around the top of the Ashton Gate stand as Doncaster began to make a major comeback, scoring four tries in the second-half.

Thankfully, one try from number eight James Phillips, that added to six penalties and two conversions, the other try coming from scrum-half Will Cliff, took Bristol home.

Robinson, accompanied by club chairman Chris Booy, had to suffer the personal horror of seeing his son, Ollie, taking from the pitch on a stretcher but thankfully his head injury was just concussion.

As for the achievement, the former England, Scotland and Bath coach said: “I am delighted to say this adds to the collection of medals but most importantly, I’m really pleased for Bristol Rugby Club and Bristol people

“They are all there. I’m just doing my job. I’m very passionate about this club and for me, the last three years have been a very enjoyable time coaching and working with the team.”