Gloucester Premier League

North Bristol 5 Frampton Cotterell 28

IT was billed as a Battle of the Titans and a winners take all clash between two sides at the bottom of the Gloucester Premier League.

And North Bristol seemed overawed by the task and it became apparent that Frampton Cotterell were happy to take advantage of lack-lustre opposition.

The defeat for North puts them on the bottom of the table, with Frampton going a point clear in the next position up.

Frampton’s tactics paid off, making good use of a strong wind at their backs, to press North’s line throughout the first half.

Meanwhile, although their scrums were under pressure, North’s lineouts where Alfie Ford, John Wood and Jay Woodleigh connected well, had plenty to work with.

Frampton attacked well and, by half-time, had accrued two tries, one converted, and two penalty goals, while North spent most of the half defending to go 0-18 down at the interval.

The benefit of a second half wind helped North, but Frampton were resilient, although North’s Phil Cresswell did grab a try to make it 5-18.

North Bristol never enjoyed the same rub of the green as the visitors, as the luck of the game went to a determined Frampton.

They scored two more tries one converted, to beat North by a convincing 5-30.

North could point to the tireless efforts of Alex Featherstone, Max Shepherd and Jim Hazard, whose tackling and driving work impressed.

Sadly, North’s backs had few chances to score in a game where the side with most grit and ambition would surely win, as they did.