El Toro 10 vs North Bristol Touring XV 5
30 Apr 2013 09:45
Tour Match27th April 2013
Following three days and three nights in Magaluf, North Bristol , on their 50th consecutive tour, travelled the short distance to play El Toro. Captain Roy McToad led his hung-over team out fuelled with vodka lemons, ropey Spanish lager and huge Yorkshire Puddings.
The first half was a tight affair with both sides making their hits, with tennis-dap-wearing Sansumite providing a big one. Tempers boiled over in the cold Mallorca weather and punches flew, especially after one of the Spanish had kicked Woody in the head and Big Rossco was on hand to help out his second row partner.
The back-row of first timers Foxy and Lou ran hard all afternoon, although not always in the right direction, and fellow virgin Unders, normally an openside, filled in admirably at fly-half. It was also Unders 100th game for North Bristol. The midfield of Rin Tin and Carl-Carl Smith defended stoutly and full back Pee Wee ran well despite continually hearing the Harlem Shake in his head.
It was North who took the lead after twenty minutes when following a strong surge to the line by DaRich, Roy chipped through for Big Shep to score the try. Pee Wee could not connect on the touch line conversion but North were up 0-5.
North’s scrum was under pressure where Wolfy, The Power and Bez struggled to contain the Spanish front row and this gave El Toro a foot hold in the game. From a speculative kick, Pee Wee did not know which of the balls he could see in the air was the real one and despite Sansumite’s best attempt to clear the line El Toro levelled things up at half time.
North made changes at the break with Gary Charles, previously dressed as Batman, and Lewis Bean, a 6ft 7in lizard coming onto the field as a guest player. Also coming on to bolster North’s hopes were Flapper, Greener and Dennis “Delilah” Vittle. However the previous few days festivities began to take it’s toll and El Toro were able to go over for the their second try to lead 10-5.
North Bristol had one final push to win the game when Flapper went close and then Big Shep almost bashed over, crushing the Spanish winger in the process, but the referee called time and it was back to the bar.
North Bristol would like to thank El Toro for their hospitality and hope to welcome them to Oaklands in the near future.
Tries - Big Shep
Bristol Harlequins 32 vs North Bristol 20
23 Apr 2013 09:30
Western Counties North20th April 2013
North Bristol, with nothing at stake, continued their poor form of late when they lost to Bristol Harlequins who were desperate to secure their Western Counties North survival and also have the Final of the Bristol Combination Vase to keep their players interested. That said North could have snatched the tie after getting themselves back into the game after a slow start.
Quins went ahead with an early converted try and then added a penalty before Dan Snow slotted two penalty kicks for North at 10-6. The home side increased their lead at 13-6 at the turnaround with their second penalty.
As has happened all too often this season, North conceded quick scores at the start of the second half and it was Quins who went 25-6 ahead with two tries but then North hit back. Impressive centre Matt Bowden crashed over for a try and nearing the game’s end Phil Sterry touched down too. With Snow converting both North were back in the game at 25-20.
However Quins clinched the game with their fourth try, confirming their escape from relegation, whilst North Bristol will continue to look and plan for next season, comfortably in fifth position in Western Counties North.
Tries - Matt Bowden, Phil Sterry
Conversions - Dan Snow (2)
Penalty Goals - Dan Snow (2)
North Bristol\'s League Record Against Bristol Harlequins
Played 18, Won 9, Lost 9, Points For 296, Points Against 326
North Bristol II 60 vs Ashley Down 19
23 Apr 2013 09:19
Friendly20th April 2013
While many Ashley Down players were on tour the remainder showed the club’s strength in depth as they fought a valiant rearguard against a mixed but useful North Bristol 2nd XV.
In the first minute a scrum just inside Ashley Down’s half Max Sheppard’s break fed debut scrum-half Gary Charles who went forty metres for the try. End to end rugby witnessed Ashley Down’s fast backs go the length but not quite make it before good hands allowed Dan Purdy to bruise through the tackle-line for a try on the left at 10-0.
North began to look good though ominously care free as Andy Bailey’s usual super lineout service found Charles getting behind Down’s defence to feed Sheppard in the corner for a 15-0 lead. Down were persistent and cut through North’s sloppy midfield decisively as their pacey No. 13 carved through to a converted try and 15-7. A further breakaway through North’s casual defence led to Ashley Down reducing the arrears to a nerve-jangling 15-12 while injury to Charles necessitated big John Wood, normally a lock, replacing him at No. 9 and showing surprisingly but impressive skill and invention there after.
A driven North Bristol lineout shortly after the interval gave Wood a try at 20-12 after Matt Parcel’s initial burst off a quickly tapped penalty. Great North Bristol drives and recycling ended with fearless Simon Nelmes crashing in for a Dan Harris converted try for North to go 27-12 up. But Ash’ weren’t “Down” and out as they replied with another converted try at 27-19 but it was all North Bristol after that.
A five metre lineout drive ended with Mohican haired prop Nelmes celebrating an awesome personal performance with a try, converted by Harris. It was Harris who took the try-scoring honours after a quick tap penalty interchange gave him the space to jink over and then to convert as well at 41-19.
A long miss-pass to super-charged Mike Lewis at No. 13 brought him his first score which was followed soon after by another when he scooped up a loose ball to dart over. Harris converted both for a 55-19 margin.
Several pick and go charges including Alex Flannigan and Vince Tesson ended with Sheppard trundling over in his familiar style to round off the afternoon for North at 60-19.
Tries - Mike Lewis (2), Simon Nelmes (2), Max Sheppard (2), Gary Charles, Dan Harris, Dan Purdy, John Wood
Conversions - Dan Harris (5)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 next >>
