Greene King IPA Championship

Bristol London 47 Scottish 26

By John Harding

BRISTOL go into the short break for the British and Irish Cup four points clear at the top of the Greene King IPA Championship table after taking maximum points from their victory over London Scottish at Ashton Gate.

While the home side scored seven tries, one of them a penalty try, there continues to concern that they conceded four tries allowing the visitors to take a bonus point to keep the Exiles seven points clear of basement side Rotherham Titans.

Head coach Pat Lam, who had again nine changes from the side that beat title contenders Ealing Trailfinders, readily admitted that they were not achieving the standards that had been set by the coaches and players.

“I appreciate the effort put in by the boys getting the five points but, it is interesting that the rest of the squad sitting in the stand, could see that when we are in system, we are really good,” said Lam.

“But when we are out of system, whether tackling or in defence, we’re pretty average.But it is the boys on the ground that do the work so I appreciate the effort. We know that we can be better, so we have to take the learning from the game.

“For me, it is all about learning and giving the lads opportunity and show what they can do - that will come through. There is no first team, the second team - it is about a squad being able to play the system.”

Tom Varndell was again the try-scoring machine with three tries with one each from centres Alapati Leiua and Will Hurrell plus replacement Rhodri Williams, and the penalty try with Ian Madigan converted five.

But Varndell had mixed reactions after the game when he added: ‘it was great to get the bonus point win but we are still leaving a few opportunities out there. We are looking for that complete performance.

“We are looking to improve game on game, there are improvements happening, especially in the backs where our attacking play was fantastic but to concede four tries at home was disappointing.

“So far it is a full house sitting at the top of the league going into the break, but we want that complete performance in attack and defence. We’ll do a lot of analysis over the next few weeks, when other players will come into the side.”

The London Scottish reply, having trailed 21-14 at the break, came through tries from full back Greg Holland, centre Ross Neal, wing Nick Scott and replacement Gregor Gillanders with fly-half Jake Sharp adding three conversions.

Academy forwards coach Mark Irish will prepare Bristol for Saturday’s B&I Cup Pool 2 tie at Sardis Road against Cardiff Premiership Select, kick-off 2.30pm, before hosting Doncaster Knights on October 22, kick-off 2 pm.

Bristol scorers - tries: Varndell (3), Leiua, Hurrell, R Williams, penalty try; cons: Madigan (5).

London Scottish scores: tries: Holland, Neal, Scott, Gillanders; cons: Sharp (3) Bristol: M Protheroe (J Williams 65), D Lemi, A Leiua (B Searle 65), W Hurrell, T Varndell, I Madigan, A Uren (R Williams 56), R Bevington (J Cosgrove 59), J Harris-Wright (M Crumpton 48), G Cortes (A Giltrow 65), J Joyce, C Vui, S Luatua, D Thomas, J Crane (captain, J Lam 35) London Scottish: C Holland, M Williams, R Neal (A Coombes 73), F Lyle, N Scott, J Sharp, E Hoadley (J Barton 70), J Harris (B Christie 73), I Miller (P Austin 70), P Cringle (D Waldren 53), J Mills (captain, G Gillanders 19-29), T Uanivi (G Gillanders 73), M Eliet, M Marley (J Atkinson 53), J Tyas Referee: S Lee Attendance: 8,429