Football: North Bristol find winning formula again (From Gazette Series)

Western Counties North: North Bristol 27 Whitehall 0

4:21pm Wednesday 18th January 2012 in Thornbury Sport

AFTER three consecutive league losses, North Bristol comfortably beat struggling Whitehall.

With centre Jonny Gait unavailable Jim Hitchman was able to make his first team debut in a side desperate to secure their first league points of 2012.

Despite dominating possession and territory, North Bristol were held to just a solitary Martin Lambourne penalty to lead 3-0 at the break.

North worked hard to create a strong platform and with Nigel Smith carrying superbly they were able to gain a foothold in the Whitehall half.

However, too many poor passes stemmed the home side’s progress and North’s kicking game was not as sharp as it has been of late.

North Bristol started the second half well and were soon on the attack.

Winger Martin Harrex, enjoying a fine game on his 300th appearance for North, sparked his team with a nippy catch and run. But it was his fellow winger Lee Heal who finished off a good team move with North’s first try, which Lambourne converted for a 10-0 lead after 45 minutes.

After some powerful forward drives, where props Alex Vittle and Alex Flannigan showed up well, it was second row John Wood who took the ball the final metre for North’s second try, again converted by Lambourne for a 17-0 lead.

A Whitehall penalty saw Lambourne stretch North’s lead by another three points before full back Josh Davies sealed the win with a last minute try, again majored by Lambourne.

North Bristol were happy with the win, their biggest ever League win over Whitehall, but they did not gain the attacking bonus point.

They will look ahead to this Saturday’s game at Gordon League knowing they will have to play well to gain a win up in Gloucester.

North Bristol scorers: Tries - Josh Davies, Lee Heal, John Wood; Conversions - Martin Lambourne (3); Penalties - Martin Lambourne (2).

GRFU South One Dings 3rds 13 North Bristol 2nds 16 Two of the best sides in the league, feeling the pressure of the day, were unable to achieve the level of skill that they undoubtedly aspired to.

Dings attacked ferociously early on and scored at once from a driven lineout that was impossible to stop and ended in Will Tobin’s try.

A penalty from Josh Robins pushed Dings 8-0 ahead when North went offside.

After North had missed a penalty reply, Dings again pressed and a good build-up produced a decent try for Jimmy Raynard.

North gradually regained their lost composure as Chris Underwood, Matt Bowden and George Gibb grafted in the nether reaches of the game.

Dings’ grip was loosened first by a Phil Sterry penalty before a superb surge of team-centred support work released powerful centre Darren Gillespie for a try.

At 13-8 it was all to play for and North Bristol rose to the occasion, showing great character to rise from the disastrous ashes of the first half.

Carl Smith’s perfectly timed pass gave Joe Mitchell the run-in for a try in the corner, levelling the game at 13-13.

As the dying seconds dribbled away a draw looked likely, but North’s increased pressure sucked Dings offside and with the last action of the match, Sterry stroked the difficult penalty between the uprights to snatch victory for the second team’s first ever league win at Dings.

Skipper Max Sheppard said: “It was a fantastic result and the boys showed great heart to come back from 13-0 down on the road.

“The plaudits go to Sterro for knocking over the penalty but it was a real team effort.

“The celebrations at the end show the team spirit within the squad.”

North Bristol scorers: Tries - Darren Gillespie, Joe Mitchell; Penalties - Phil Sterry (2).

GRFU South Three Old Bristolians 4ths 22 North Bristol 3rds 16 On a very heavy pitch, North Bristol battled hard against a strengthened Old Bristolians side and almost snatched a win.

North were able to win plenty of possession, where hooker Tony Booth linked up well with Joe Page in the lineout.

Some early pressure saw the home side penalised and Peter Swallow slotted the penalty.

Perhaps stung into action, Old Bristolians launched some well organised attacks and following a number of phases they scored from close range to lead 5-3.

However, following a blind-side snipe by Nick Tatum, his pass found the strong running Andre Samura, who broke two tackles before off-loading to Steve Bold.

The veteran No 8 showed great hands in passing to Matt Lang, who finished off the move for a fine try. Swallow was unable to add the extras but North were back in front.

Old B’s came back again and re-took the lead with their second try at 10-8, but Swallow nudged North back ahead again at the interval with his second penalty.

North’s good defence, where Swallow, Page, Tee Nyandoro and Rob Sansum showed up well, saw the second half stay scoreless.

But after 55 minutes Old Bristolians went back into the lead with a converted try Into the last minutes Old Bristolians attacked again but Tatum, celebrating his 600th game for North Bristol, intercepted and raced 60 metres for a try. Swallow could not make the conversion, but North were just one point behind.

Old Bristolians scored at the death to secure their win.

North Bristol scorers: Tries - Matt Lang, Nick Tatum; Penalties - Peter Swallow (2).