REPORT: Bristol Rugby 45-19 Bedford Blues

In front of a league record attendance of 12,030, the hosts scored six tries. Martin Roberts grabbed a double, while Nick Koster, Tom Varndell, Ben Mosses and Andy Uren all crossed to seal a two-legged final versus Doncaster Knights.

Bedford could have been ahead inside the opening minute when Josh Buggea thought he’d scored, only for the try to be ruled out by referee Dean Richards.

Instead, the home side stretched their aggregate lead when Martin Roberts ghosted between two defenders to dab down for a converted try.

And Bristol added a second try moments later as Nick Koster and David Lemi combined for the flanker to slide over and double Bristol’s advantage.

Callum Sheedy and Nick Koster were yellow carded in quick succession for professional fouls to reduce Bristol to thirteen men and the visitors seized the initiative, rumbling over for a penalty try.

Bedford leveled proceedings midway through the first period as Dean Adamson latched onto Paul Tupai’s offload to race over the whitewash.

Despite being stung by a numerical disadvantage, patient attacking play saw Martin Roberts dart over for his second of the afternoon and edge the hosts back ahead.

A Callum Sheedy penalty miss followed during a breathless first half, before Ben Mosses grabbed a fourth try when the centre found space to fly over from close-range.

Bristol had a score ruled out after the ball was adjudged to have been held up under a heap of bodies, while Sheedy notched a three pointer to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

And Paul Tupai crashed over from a metre on the stroke of half-time to keep Bedford in touching distance at the interval.

Andy Robinson rang the changes with six changes before the second period, but his side were, once again, reduced to fourteen men when Luke Arscott saw yellow before the hour mark.

It wasn’t until the closing stages that Bristol Rugby completed the rout as Tom Varndell and Andy Uren touched down to seal a memorable victory at Ashton Gate.

Bristol Rugby:

Luke Arscott; Jack Wallace, Gareth Maule, Ben Mosses, David Lemi (c); Callum Sheedy, Martin Roberts; Jack O’Connell, Ross McMillan, Anthony Perenise, Ian Evans, Ben Glynn, Nick Koster, Jack Lam, James Phillips.

Replacements: Chris Brooker (for Ross McMillan, 40 mins), Kyle Traynor (for Jack O’Connell, 40 mins), Jamal Ford-Robinson (for Anthony Perenise, 41 mins), Joe Joyce (for Jack Lam, 40 mins), Andy Uren (for Martin Roberts, 69 mins), Nick Carpenter (for Gareth Maule, 40 mins), Matthew Morgan (for David Lemi, 40 mins).

Bedford Blues:

Steffan Jones; George Perkins, Michael LeBourgeois (c), Ollie Dodge, Dean Adamson; Jake Sharp, Henry Taylor; Camilo Parilli-Ocampo, Charlie Clare, Phil Boulton, Mike Howard, Mark Flanagan, Josh Buggea, Seb Nagle-Taylor, Paul Tupai.

Replacements: Jacob Fields (for Charlie Clare, 65 mins), Biyi Alo (for Camilo Parilli-Ocampo, 64 mins), Alex Lundberg (for Phil Boulton, 64 mins), Harry Wells (for Josh Buggea, 53 mins), Jordan Burns (for Henry Taylor, 63 mins), Myles Dorrian (for Jake Sharp, 63 mins), Pat Tapley (for Steffan Jones, 59 mins).

Referee: Dean Richards

Man of the Match: Martin Roberts

Attendance: 12,030