By John Harding

GKIPA Championship

Bristol 32 Ealing Trailfinders 23

BRISTOL took maximum points for the four successive match to take over at the top of the GKIPA Championship season as they denied previous incumbents Ealing Trailfinders a losing bonus point through a late penalty.

The home side had gone into the break with a 22-13 lead after tries from hooker Ross McMillan is his first competitive start of the season, centre Alapati Leiua and flanker Steven Luatua with fly-half Billy Searle adding two conversions and a penalty.

The Trailfinders, led by former Bristol second row Glen Townson, constantly tested Bristol’s defence and replied through a try from former Bristol prop Will Davis with full-back Peter Lydon adding the extras and two penalties.

The visitors reduced the arrears with Lydon converting a touchdown from hooker Alun Walker before the full-back landed a penalty on the hour mark to give Ealing the lead for the first time in the game when Bristol were down to 13-men.

Prop Nicky Thomas was the first to be shown yellow, after persistent scrum infringements, followed by replacement hooker Max Crumpton for a dangerous tackle. Bristol regained the advantage eight minutes from time.

Replacement wing Mat Protheroe broke from deep inside his own half =, skirted round a couple of players before a neat offload to advancing scrum-half Rhodri Williams for the try-scoring bonus point.

Seattle added the conversion, but there was still time for Searle to opt for a simple penalty which he duly slotted between the uprights to deny the visitors a bonus point in a televised match which was a perfect advert for second-tier rugby.

Bristol scorers - tries: R McMillan, A Leiua, S Luatua, R Williams; cons: B Searle 3; pens: B Searle 2 Ealing Trailfinders scorers - tries: W Davis, A Walker; cons: P Lydon 2; pens: P Lydon 3 Bristol: J Williams; L Morahan (M Protheroe, 49), A Leiua, T Pisi (c) (W Hurrell, 68) T Varndell (A Giltrow, 58-64); B Searle, R Williams (A Uren, 78); J O’Connell (S Tonga’uiha, 61), R McMillan (M Crumpton, 52-57), N Thomas (, J Joyce, C Vui, S Luatua, D Thomas, J Lam (R McMillan 58-67; J Crane, 74) Yellow card: N Thomas (53) M Crumpton (57-66) Ealing Trailfinders: P Lydon; S Stegmann, P O’Conor, L Robling, M Mantella; A Penberthy, L Carter (C Waters, 74 ); W Davis (J Gibbons, 67), A Walker (M Cornish, 78), L Thiede (M Tampin, 67), G Townson (c) (H Casson, 52), B Maddison, R Smid (D Temm, 62), A Durutalo, M Bright.

Reps (not used): W Harries.

Ref: C Ridley Att: 7170