Pack power sets platform for backline fliers

UNBEATEN Bristol’s forward physicality and backline dynamism outclassed London Scottish to seal a try bonus-point within half-an-hour and equal their record of 16 league wins in a row.

Bristol’s pack laid the groundwork for fly-half Callum Sheedy, one of 11 changes from the Ealing victory, to orchestrate the game, resulting in nine tries.

Playmaker Sheedy said: “Our goal was to get five points but there is still work to do and we got a bit frantic in the second half.

“It was a big game for the forwards, they wanted the dominance and not just parity from one to eight, it made the backs’ job a lot easier. With the pack and Tusi Pisi at centre my job was easy as I just had to execute.”

Bristol’s attack tore through the Scottish defensive line early on and within minutes lock Joe Joyce was a whisker short. But the recycled ball went wide for full-back Luke Morahan to dive over.

Six phases from the restart and blindside Steven Luatua broke down the left flank with wing David Lemi on his shoulder, the latter finishing in the corner.

Scottish briefly tested Bristol’s defence, but had to settle for three points from the boot of Jacob Atkins.

After a Luatua turnover from the restart, openside Jack Lam broke through the Scottish line for Lemi to score.

It got worse for the Exiles after wing Joe-Luca Smith spilled the ball and Bristol pinned them back until Morahan slid through a gap to dot down.

The Scottish forwards were overrun by the vistors as the game wore on. A powerful Bristol scrum and fine phase play set up

centre Pisi to cascade past two defenders to score.

To cap the first 40, the West Country side won a scrum against the head and Sheedy offoaded for Lam to score.

After a catch and drive try from Bristol prop Jason Harris-Wright, Scottish finally broke their duck with replacement Craig Holland intercepting from Ian Madigan to run in from 70m.

Bristol wing Alapati Leiua scored in the corner but Scottish kept on fighting and Ross Neal finished off some good phase play for a well-deserved second try. But after a break down the flank by Morahan, lock Joe Latta rounded off the scoring.

Scottish coach Dave Morris said: “We were embaressed by the firsthalf, our scrum and line-out didn’t function and we were chasing shadows. We restored some resemblance of pride in the second half.”