Report: Bristol Rugby 38-14 Bedford Blues

Andy Robinson’s men returned to the top of the Greene King IPA Championship with a six-try win at Ashton Gate.

Mitch Eadie bagged a double, while Olly Robinson, David Lemi, Gareth Maule and Jack Wallace also touched down in front of over 7,000 supporters.

It took Bristol just six minutes to break the deadlock as Mitch Eadie collected Matthew Morgan’s pinpoint pass to canter in under the posts from twenty metres.

The home side doubled their lead midway through the first period as Olly Robinson marked his return to the side with his thirteenth try of the campaign, sliding over from close range.

James Pritchard was held up over the whitewash after Bedford launched a counter attack from inside their own half, but Bristol held firm to clear the danger.

After Nick Fenton-Wells, Harry Wells and James Pritchard were yellow carded in quick succession, reducing Bedford to twelve men, Robinson’s men added a third try.

And it was the impressive Mitch Eadie who bagged his second of the afternoon to move the score to 19-0, dabbing down from the back of a scrum before the interval.

The bonus point was secured soon after the restart as Dwayne Peel marked a lively display with a close-range effort, although Morgan couldn’t convert.

Bedford got points on the board courtesy of Paul Tupai’s opportunist try. The veteran lock pounced on a loose ball to dab down following a defensive slip-up in the Bristol ranks.

Tupai added a quickfire second to bring the visitors right back into contention, but his effort was cancelled out by a stunning David Lemi score moments later.

The winger fended off two defenders to jink over the whitewash for a converted try, giving Bristol breathing space at 31-14.

Late in the game, Paul Tupai became the fourth Bedford player to be yellow carded, before Jack Wallace rounded off a routine win, going over in the corner after patient build-up.

Bristol Rugby:
Jack Wallace; George Watkins, Gareth Maule, Gavin Henson, David Lemi; Matthew Morgan, Dwayne Peel (c); Kyle Traynor, Ross McMillan, Gaston Cortes, Joe Joyce, Ian Evans, Ryan Jones, Olly Robinson, Mitch Eadie.

Replacements: Rhys Lawrence (for Ross McMillan, 55 mins), Anthony Perenise (for Gaston Cortes, 47 mins), Ben Skirving (for Ian Evans, 69 mins), Nick Koster (for Joe Joyce, 55 mins), Craig Hampson (for Dwayne Peel, 69 mins), Nicky Robinson (for Matthew Morgan, 62 mins), Tommaso Benvenuti (for Gareth Maule, 72 mins).

Bedford Blues:
James Pritchard; Pat Tapley
, Mike Le Bourgeois
, Viliami Hakalo
, Henry Staff
; Jake Sharp
, Darryl Veenendaal; Tom Williams
, Charlie Clare
, Phil Boulton
, Harry Wells
, Ben Gulliver
, Paul Tupai
, Josh Buggea
, Nick Fenton-Wells (c).

Replacements: TJ Harris
 (for Charlie Clare, 59 mins), Camilo Parilli-Ocampo
 (for Phil Boulton, 66 mins), James Currie (for Tom Williams
 66 mins), Justin Blanchet (for Ben Gulliver, 19 mins), Pete White (for Daryl Veenendaal
 72 mins), Baden Kerr (for Viliami Hakalo, 69 mins), Steffan Jones (for Jake Sharp, 69 mins).

Referee: Steve Lee
Airbus UK Man of the Match: Mitch Eadie
Attendance: 7,435