Bristol salvaged a draw with a last minute penalty from Argentine fly-half
Felipe Contepomi to take him past 100 league points this season after Barry
Everitt looked to have secured victory for the Exiles with a simple penalty at
the end of normal time.
London Irish were forced to make two late changes to their starting line-up
after lock Steve Williams and loosehead prop Neal Hatley pulled out through flu
although Hatley was named on the bench.
Rob Hardwick came in at tighthead prop and Steve Williams in the second row.
The visitors, who lost 30-26 to the Exiles in September, made just one change
with David Rees returning from a hamstring injury replacing Luke Nabaro on the
right wing who will miss the rest of the season following a knee operation.
London Irish, who have only lost once at home in the league when Leicester won
28-10 earlier this month, pinned Bristol back into their own half for much of
the initial 15 minutes with fly-half Everitt landing two penalties for the
Exiles and his opposite number Felipe Contepomi, on a rare visit to the
opposition half, one for the visitors.
Everitt kicked two further penalties, both from 45 metres out, going into the
second quarter to take the Irishman to 100 league points in just seven matches
this season but then missed one on the half hour.
Bristol were reduced to 14 men when openside flanker Adam Vander was sent to
the sin-bin for head-butting former England number eight Chris Sheasby.
Then Contepomi, the Argentine international, broke from his own half after
taking an interception.
He raced away and when he tried to get the ball away to Rees, the only man up
in support, but the wing was obstructed by centre Geoff Appleford and Contepomi
kicked the penalty.
Bristol reduced the arrears further as Rees took a pass from Scotland A prop
Paul Johnstone deep in his own half. The wing raced away down the right,
side-stepped one player the chipped ahead. The ball bounced perfectly for him to
dive over the line with Contepomi's conversion giving the Exiles a 15-13
interval lead.
Bristol looked a different side at the start of the second half with Contepomi
landing a 45 metre penalty to give the visitors the lead for the first time in
the game.
Then Bristol were down to 14 men for the second time in the game as former
England lock Garath Archer was yellow carded for a punch as a scrum broke-up.
Everitt kicked another penalty to regain the lead before they scored their
only try of the game as centre Jason Wright scored in the left corner but
Everitt missed the conversion.
Bristol came back from a tap penalty as centre Jamie Mayer raced through which
Contepomi converted to level the scores.
Then, with 80 minutes on the clock, Everitt attempted a long range kick from
out wide. Bristol stopped the ball going over the bar but referee Robin
Goodliffe judged that it was a deliberate knock-on.
Everitt made no mistake with the next attempt from in front of the posts to
put the Exiles in front only for Contepomi to snatch a draw with a 45 metre
penalty on the stroke of full time.
Man of the Match: Barry Everitt (London Irish)
Teams:
London Irish: Bishop, Sackey, Appleford,
Wright, Ezulike,
Everitt, Tonu'u, Worsley, Kirke, Hardwick, Strudwick, Delaney,
Cockle, Danaher, Sheasby.
Not Used: Campbell, Cunningham, Alexopoulous, Halvey, Bates,
Hatley, Halford.
Sin Bin: Bates (78).
Tries: Wright.
Pens: Everitt 7.
Bristol: Best, Rees, Simone, Mayer, S. Brown, Contepomi,
Pichot, Johnstone, McCarthy, Crompton, Archer, A. Brown,
C. Short, Vander, Salter.
Not Used: Williams, Siveter, Sheridan, Morgan, Baber, Marsden, Reeves.
Tries: Rees, Mayer.
Cons: Contepomi 2.
Pens: Contepomi 4.
Sin Bin: Vander (27), Archer (48).
Att: 3,349
Ref: Rob Goodliffe (RFU).
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