Bristol secured their eighth place in the Zurich Premiership table as they
condemned champions Leicester Tigers to their fourth league defeat of the
season.
Both sides were reduced to 14 men just before the interval as international
referee Steve Lander sent Bristol's England prop Julian White and Leicester's
England Under 21 number eight Adam Balding off for fighting.
However, 10 minutes from the end of the game Bristol second row Garath Archer
and Tigers England Under 21 lock Peter Short found the more lenient side of
Lander who took no action, other than a verbal caution, after they exchanged
blows on the ground under the watchful eye of senior touch judge Trevor Fisher.
Bristol welcomed back skipper Jason Little (back) and Andy Higgins (flu) in
the centre plus ex-England lock Archer (back) while Darren Crompton came in to
the side at loosehead prop for Paul Johnstone (medial ligaments).
The visitors fielded just two players - full back Geordan Murphy and wing
Ollie Smith - from the side that started in last weekend's Heineken Cup
semi-final victory over Llanelli while another four, including Martin Johnson,
were on the bench.
Bristol, having pinned the Tigers back in to their own half in the early
stages, opened the scoring after just seven minutes as Higgins, the England
Under 21 centre, took a long pass from Little, before switching back inside to
score the opening try.
Argentinian international Felipe Contepomi added the conversion from in front
of the posts then missed a penalty from close to the left touchline before
landing one from the right touchline and a second from 35 metres out.
Leicester went further behind as Bristol scored two tries in quick succession
either side of the half-hour mark.
Little repeated Higgins move score the first before Contepomi intercepted a
wide pass to score in the left corner.
Contepomi converted both to set a new club points record in the league before
Leicester breached the Bristol 22 for the first time in the game as Murphy found
a gap between Little and Crompton to scored by the posts.
The seemingly simple conversion from fly-half Andy Goode was embarrassingly
sliced well wide but he made no mistake as he landed from 40 metres a couple of
minutes later.
Goode added his second penalty after the two players were sent off by referee
Lander as Bristol led 27-11 at the interval. Contepomi landed his third penalty
after the restart before the Tigers were reduced to 14 men when Goode was sent
to the sin-bin for killing a ruck.
Bristol took advantage of the extra man with England A wing Phil Christophers,
who was on the Tigers' books two years ago, scoring in the left corner to give
the Shoguns a try-scoring bonus point.
Just before the hour mark former All Black flanker Josh Kronfeld ran in from
40 metres to score in the right corner despite the efforts of Higgins to stop
him grounding the ball.
Centre Glenn Gelderbloom scored the Tigers' third try in the right corner but
Contepomi kicked his fourth penalty from the half to seal the game.
Teams:
Bristol: Best, Rees, Higgins, Little, Christophers,
Contepomi,
Pichot, Crompton, McCarthy, White, Archer, A. Brown, Short,
Lipman, Sturnham, Sturnham, Brownrigg, Daniel.
Replacements: Daniel for Rees (48), Little for Higgins (62),
Daniel for Little (59), Nelson for McCarthy (62),
Payne for Short (44), Brownrigg for Sturnham (16),
Brownrigg for Sturnham (65), Sturnham for Brownrigg (24),
Rees for Daniel (51).
Not Used: C. Morgan, Blake, Carrington.
Sent Off: White (40).
Tries: Higgins, Little, Contepomi, Christophers.
Cons: Contepomi 3.
Pens: Contepomi 4.
Leicester: Murphy, Smith,
Lloyd, Gelderbloom, Booth, Goode,
Grindal, Freshwater, Cockerill, Nebbett, Deacon, Short,
W. Johnson, Kronfeld, Balding.
Replacements: Stimpson for Murphy (58), Healey for Booth (78),
Ellis for Grindal (60), Jelley for Freshwater (77),
Phuber for Cockerill (66), Moody for W. Johnson (42).
Not Used: M. Johnson.
Sin Bin: Goode (47).
Sent Off: Balding (40).
Tries: Murphy, Kronfeld, Gelderbloom.
Pens: Goode 2.
Att: 6,566
Ref: John Barnard (RFU).
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