Bristol avenged their Heineken Cup defeat by Swansea last week in spectacular
style with a crushing demolition of the Welshmen on Sunday.
The Memorial Stadium side, who are still in with a chance of qualifying for
the quarter-finals, burst into action as soon as the whistle was blown with a
try after 26 seconds.
Forward Daryl Gibson surged his way through the midfield to catch Swansea
unaware and score. Australian fly-half Shane Drahm kicked the conversion before
adding a further three penalties.
Gibson was then on the scoreboard again. Bristol repeatedly attacked Swansea's
defence before the ball finally went out to the right wing for Gibson to dive
over. Drahm again converted and added a fourth penalty.
Gavin Henson registered Swansea's only score with a 16th-minute penalty but
Bristol headed into the half-time break with a 26-3 advantage.
Bristol continued to dominate the early part of the second half and after just
one minute centre Andrew Higgins touched down thanks to a clever kick through by
Drahm.
Soon after Gibson completed his hat-trick. Bristol won a line out on the five
metre line and the ball was recycled several times before Gibson spotted space
to cut through the defence.
Argentinian scrum-half Agustin Pichot touched down for the home side's fifth
try thanks to a break by full-back Lee Best.
Swansea saved their blushes late in the second half with three tries by
Henson, forward Andrew Farley and substitute Arwel Thomas. Thomas also added a
penalty and a conversion but the visitors late come back could not take the
shine off Bristol's dominance.
Teams:
Bristol: Best, Rees, Higgins, Gibson, Christophers, Drahm,
Pichot, Crompton, Johnstone, White, Archer, A. Brown, Salter,
Oakley, Beattie.
Replacements: Sheridan, S. Morgan, Nelson, Sturnham, Richards,
Carrington, Williams.
Tries: Gibson 3, Higgins, Pichot.
Cons: Drahm 2.
Pens: Drahm 4.
Swansea: Payne, Rees, Taylor, Gibbs, Robinson, Henson,
Cordingley, Morris, Balshen, Evans, Slade, Farley, D. Thomas,
Charvis, Bater.
Replacements: R. Jones, A. Thomas, Winn, C. Wells, Dorsey,
Tries: Henson, Farley, A. Thomas.
Cons: A. Thomas.
Pens: Henson, A. Thomas.
Att: 4,327
Ref: Simon McDowell (Ireland).
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