North Bristol 2nds v BUH (Medics)

NORTH Bristol will wonder how they managed to lose this game by such a margin.

The outcome centred around territory versus points. For most of the first half and parts of the second, North Bristol stole the hard-yards to press the scoring zone, where the fiercest Medics’ defence held them at bay.

But the visitors’ pace and fitness enabled them to run long distances and break away to score regularly.

Furthermore, their adventurous running and handling was all the more admirable in the very wet and muddy conditions.

Medics’ first three excellent tries were matched by North’s converted one, when flanker Max Fox-Holmes’ support play rewarded North’s good teamwork with a try. Phil Sterry’s conversion took North to 7-15 by half-time.

While the visitors’ backs took the glory, North also had some good performers.

A solid scrum was led by burly Wes Reed, while tackle-tanks, Joey O’Leary, Alex Templar and Max Fox-Holmes, never stopped toiling. Centres, Phil Sterry and Carl Smith, recently short of game-time, took advantage to show some signs of their class, too.

The Medics regular long-distance raids kept North on tenterhooks, though desperate defence prevented a landslide of scoring breakouts.

In the end the visitors had to be content with only three more tries finishing 7-30 winners- a total which does not do them full justice on a miserably wet afternoon.