Bristol ended a two-month stint as the Zurich Premiership's bottom club by
salvaging a dramatic draw against fellow strugglers London Irish at the Memorial
Stadium.
Irish now prop up the Premiership on points difference, a stark contrast from
last season's achievements when they secured Heineken Cup qualification and were
also European Shield semi-finalists.
Substitute hooker Saul Nelson was the Bristol hero, touching down for a try
three minutes into injury-time. And, although fly-half Shane Drahm made a superb
effort with the touchline conversion attempt, his kick drifted agonisingly
wide.
Drahm, who probably would not have started had Argentinian international
Felipe Contepomi not been away on Test duty, produced an impressive solo
performance.
He contributed 17 points, including a try, and made several incisive breaks
despite suffering an injury which required lengthy treatment.
Irish once again relied on the prolific boot of Barry Everitt to keep them in
contention during a fast and furious encounter.
Everitt kicked 22 points, including the conversions of tries by centre Nick
Burrows and flanker Declan Danaher.
Danaher's 76th-minute touchdown put Irish ahead for the first time since they
relinquished a 19-14 interval advantage and, when Everitt then landed a
78th-minute penalty, the visitors looked to have done enough.
But Bristol hit back magnificently, with possession worked out wide for Nelson
to dive over and clinch a try-scoring bonus point on top of the two points
guaranteed for a draw.
Irish made the early running as Everitt kicked two penalties inside 10
minutes, but Bristol's response was swift when wing Brendon Daniel skipped
through a weak Pieter Rossouw tackle for a try which Drahm converted.
Everitt restored Irish's lead through another penalty, only for Bristol to
gain a penalty try that was awarded by inconsistent referee Robin Goodliffe.
Drahm's delightful break took him to within touching distance of the
opposition line, and then when Irish defenders prevented quick release of
possession, Goodliffe had no hesitation in awarding the penalty try which Drahm
converted.
Bristol had their Argentinian prop Emiliano Bergamaschi harshly sin-binned for
not rolling away from the tackle, but it took Irish until first-half injury-time
to take charge.
Everitt's fourth penalty was followed by superb work from the visiting
forwards which ended with Burrows grabbing a try and securing a five-point
interval lead after Everitt converted.
The second period followed a similarly frantic pattern, and 10 points from
Drahm meant that Bristol were ahead entering the final quarter.
Typically, though, Everitt brought Irish back into contention with another
penalty, and despite Drahm restoring the five-point gap, Danaher touched down on
an overlap and Everitt converted from wide out to seemingly break Bristol
hearts.
This fluctuating match still had a final twist in the tail thought with Nelson
stealing the glory and a share of the spoils in what could prove to be a
critical score when this Premiership season is finally done and dusted next
May.
Teams:
Bristol: Best, Daniel, Higgins, Gibson, Christophers, Drahm,
Richards, E. Bergamaschi, Johnstone, Crompton, Archer,
A. Brown, Salter, Short, Oakley.
Not Used: Skuse, S. Morgan, Sturnham, Nelson, Carrington, Rees,
Hodgson.
Tries: Daniel, Penalty, Drahm, Nelson.
Cons: Drahm 3.
Pens: Drahm 2.
London Irish: Horak, Sackey, Burrows, Venter, Rossouw, Everitt,
Edwards, Worsley, Drotske, Hardwick, Strudwick, Kennedy,
Gustard, Danaher, Sheasby.
Not Used: Barrett, Mapletoft, Cockle, Flavin, Delaney, Hatley,
Durant.
Tries: Burrows, Danaher.
Cons: Everitt 2.
Pens: Everitt 6.
Att: 5,500
Ref: Robin Goodliffe (Sheffield).
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