GKIPA Championship

Yorkshire Carnegie 14 Bristol 44

By John Harding

BRISTOL’S dominance at the top of the GKIPA Championship rolls on as they ran in five tries as they maintained their unbeaten run at the top GKIPA Championship as they continue their drive back to rugby’s top flight.

They have now taken chalked-up eight try-scoring bonus points from their 51 touchdowns in the nine games. The victory also ended the unbeaten home run of Yorkshire Carnegie who were considers pre-season as one of Bristol’s main contenders.

“We got off to another good start for the third week in a row,” said Bristol’s head coach Pat Lam. “We focussed on being ruthless at the start, and we did that, but there are moments when we allowed them back in which we will work on.

“With a number away on international duty so it was good to see some boys an opportunity and great to see them take them. We missed a couple of tackles, were a bit sloppy and gave away a penalty at scrum time which released the pressure.

“I love these sort of games and where it is because it gives a chance to check our culture because if you come here as indigos, if you come here and don’t put in your effort, you’ll come unstuck.

“The answer to that, from this game, is that we are improving, we’re making steps. We next face Nottingham on Saturday lunchtime and everyone is looking forward to getting back to Ashton Gate.”

Bristol had led 23-0 at the break after tries from Tusi Pisi and Luke Morahan which were both converted by Ian Madigan with the fly-half also adding three penalties, the second of which was from 45 metres.

Madigan was again on target with his conversion of Jordan Williams’ touchdown early in the second half. The home side struck around the hour mark with quick tries from Richard Beck and Stevie McColl who also converted both.

Bristol regrouped after some strong words from the on-the-field leaders wit tries from Ross McMillan and a second from Morahan, both of which were converted by ‘Man of the Match’ Madigan to take his tally on the night to 19 points.

Yorkshire Carnegie scorers - tries: Beck, McColl; cons: McColl (2)

Bristol scorers - tries: Morahan (2), Pisi, J Williams, McMillan; cons: Madigan (5), pens: Madigan (3)

Yorkshire Carnegie: S McColl, G Watkins, C Elder, T Casson (F Burdon 45), L Brown, P Lucock, W Homer (O Fox 71), M Thomas (C Capps 75), J Buckle (H Newborn 75), C Beech (J Thraves 60), J Whetton, M Myerscough (B West 60), R Beck, R Mayhew (captain), O Stedman (J Bainbridge 65)

Bristol: J Williams (W Hurrell 64), L Morahan, J Tovey, T Pisi (C Sheedy 68), T Varndell, I Madigan, A Uren (R Williams 68), R Bevington (S Tonga’uiha 64), R McMillan (B Gompels 71), G Cortes (N Thomas 64), J Joyce, S Jeffries, S Luatua (captain), D Thomas, J Crane (J Batley 60)

Referee: H Smales

Attendance: 2, 478