Rugby: North Bristol fall away after scoring early tries (From Gazette Series)

Western Counties North: North Bristol 16 Matson 27

10:41am Thursday 12th January 2012 in Thornbury Sport

EARLY promise ultimately for North Bristol as their poor second half showing saw Matson leave Bristol with a satisfying win.

It had all started so well for the home team when after just five minutes winger Martin Harrex benefited from great work from Jonny Gait to score a fine try for a 5-0 lead.

With the lineout going well North had possession and returning flanker Alex Featherstone, playing his 250th League game, scored a try and North were leading 10-0 after 12 minutes.

Matson looked sharp and came back into the game after 15 minutes with a try of their own, but Martin Lambourne looked to have steadied the ship with a penalty after 22 minutes.

The visitors replied with a penalty of their own and then tied things up with their second try after 31 minutes.

North led at the break, though, when Lambourne slotted his second penalty, and at the turnaround it was 16-13.

Despite enjoying possession and territory North Bristol were unable to score in the second half.

Chances went begging and Matson scored two early second half tries, both converted, to lead 27-16.

North’s defence in the back line was found wanting on occasions and despite good field position Matson were able to defend well.

North Bristol will need to up their work rate during the week and put in a better performance next week at home to Whitehall if they want to end their three game losing streak.

North Bristol scorers: Tries - Alex Featherstone, Martin Harrex; Penalties - Martin Lambourne (2).

GRFU South One North Bristol 2nds 57 Barton Hill 2nds 7 On a reserve pitch, much smaller than they were accustomed to, North Bristol’s talented backline made nonsense of the restrictions to cut loose from the start.

A surprisingly good catch on his own 22 by lock Mark Smith was quickly transferred to scrum-half Antony Jelf as the counter-attack began.

The ball was shifted several more times down the right touch-line before Jelf appeared once more to burst through and score. Ashley Milburn added the conversion.

Within minutes great recycling from North ended with a dummy and step by Milburn, who scored by the posts and converted his own try for an ominous 14-0 lead.

A lively performance from James Marsh’s run took him close before Milburn’s good finishing brought the try, which he also converted.

A great set move brought Joe Mitchell through the centre at pace where ginger-time-bomb Gransden exploded onto the ball to score. Milburn’s extras made it 28-0 at the break.

When Barts took the slight down-slope and the following breeze they caught North napping as Pete Pegsey scorched through to score.

Paul Millard’s conversion brought the score to 28-7, briefly giving heart to the visitors.

However, a super long range counter-attack produced a good try for Mitchell, which Milburn again converted.

Jelf capped a brilliant performance at scrum half with a surging solo run from a 45 metre scrum to score a converted try before George Gibb’s strike against the head gave Jelf the chance to put skipper Max Sheppard in for a try, his side’s 100th of the season, again converted by Milburn.

It became 52-7 when Milburn’s ominous accuracy notched a penalty.

Barts lost their No 10 to a yellow card but Milburn showed more good form to take a hat-trick try, surprisingly unconverted, in his haul of 32 points.

North Bristol scorers: Tries - Ashley Milburn (3), Antony Jelf (2), Chris Gransden, Joe Mitchell, Max Sheppard; Conversions - Ashley Milburn (7); Penalties - Ashley Milburn.

GRFU South Three Chipping Sodbury 3rds 12 North Bristol 3rds 20 With the aid of the elements and domination of possession, North Bristol enjoyed the lions share of the action in the first half, though turning possession into points turned into a tricky task as Chipping Sodbury’s back line defended stoutly.

There were attacks aplenty from North but always something to go wrong at the sharp end.

Ian Kellaway’s good lineout ball and strong running support play caught the eye, while Tony Booth’s hooking produced plenty of good scrummage ball.

However, a score did eventually come as good handling and a blind-side break from Nick Tatum put Matt Lang over in the corner as North took a slim 5-0 lead into the interval.

Sodbury came out firing and a strong run into midfield ended with their No 12 taking a converted touchdown to lead 7-5.

Good driving play from North took them close before Mark Tudor drove from a ruck to score a try.

It became 13-7 when a high-tackle enabled Dan Harris to punish Sodbury with a penalty.

With North’s pack increasingly active, especially Simon Nelmes and Kellaway, they created pressure.

A chip and chase nearly brought a score for Lang but the resultant ruck ended with a second Tudor pick and drive as North moved 20-7 ahead with Harris’ conversion.

The last move of the game produced a late try for Sodbury but it was too little too late as North deservedly triumphed.

North Bristol scorers: Tries - Mark Tudor (2), Matt Lang; Conversions - Dan Harris; Penalties - Dan Harris.