Report: Nottingham 13-27 Bristol Rugby

Jack Wallace and Auguy Slowik crossed during a tight first period, before Olly Robinson’s close-range effort midway through the second half edged the visitors ahead. Luke Eves went over in the dying seconds to secure maximum points at Meadow Lane.

The home side went in front early on as Sean Romans was on hand to collect Dan Mugford’s neat offload and slide in for a converted try.

Jack Wallace responded on the ten-minute mark, racing down the outside channel to cross the whitewash, although Jarvis couldn’t convert from a narrow angle.

Mugford missed a long-range penalty goal opportunity, before Nottingham’s Conor Carey was yellow carded in a spell of Bristol pressure.

And the visitors took full advantage of their superior possession when Auguy Slowik showed sublime footballing skills to kick ahead and dive over for an unconverted score.

Jack Wallace and Gareth Maule had chances to push Bristol further ahead, but it was Dan Mugford’s successful three-pointer that leveled the scores at 10-10 at the break.

Nottingham moved back in front through Dan Mugford’s mammoth penalty goal soon after the restart.

Andy Robinson’s men continued to enjoy the lion’s share of territory and turned the game on its head as Olly Robinson slipped between defenders to cross the whitewash for a converted try.

The Green and Whites had an opportunity to close the gap with a late Mugford penalty, but the fly half skewed his attempt wide.

With time running out, Adrian Jarvis struck a penalty goal, before Luke Eves secured the bonus point with a last-gasp intercept try.

Nottingham:

Billy Robinson; Pila Iongi, Ed Styles, Orisi Mawaqaliva, Ryan Hough; Dan Mugford, Sean Romans; George Porter, Shaun Malton, Conor Carey, Toby Freeman, Dan Montagu, Rupert Cooper, Brent Wilson (c), Tom Calladine.

Replacements: Jon Vickers (for Shaun Malton, 59 mins), Rob O'Donnell, Kiefer Laxton (for Conor Carey, 59 mins), Matt Everard, Alex Smit (for Sean Romans, 80 mins), Will Maisey, Liam O'Neill (for Ryan Hough, 75 mins).

Bristol Rugby:

Auguy Slowik; Jack Wallace, Gareth Maule, Ben Mosses, Darren Hudson; Adrian Jarvis, Dwayne Peel (c); Kyle Traynor, Chris Brooker, James Hall, Ian Evans, Glen Townson, Marco Mama, Olly Robinson, Mitch Eadie.

Replacements: Rhys Lawrence (for Chris Brooker, 40 mins), Gaston Cortes (for James Hall, 72 mins), Ben Glynn (for Glen Townson, 72 mins), Nick Koster (for Mitch Eadie, 64 mins), Craig Hampson (for Dwayne Peel, 11 mins), Mark Cooke, Luke Eves (for Darren Hudson, 61 mins).

Referee: Darren Gamage
Attendance: 1,347