Burns sends Bristol one step closer to the drop

BILLY BURNS got Gloucester back to winning ways as he helped himself to 17 points to hammer another nail into Bristol’s Premiership coffin. As an exercise in erasing the memories of their home defeat by Harlequins two weeks ago, which led to the resignation of head coach Laurie Fisher, it was hardly the perfect performance, but a win’s a win. And coming a week before they head back into Europe to face Cardiff Blues in the quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup it will have at least boosted the confidence of the Cherry and Whites. As for Bristol, it was pretty much business as usual as they slipped to a 15th Premiership defeat of the season to remain anchored to the bottom. With only four games left and a seven-point gap to make up, it is going to take more than straight, hard running and honest commitment to keep them afloat. Despite dominating possession and territory, they could only muster three penalties from Billy Searle. Jason Woodward was wide with two long-range efforts in the first half and the decisive score in the opening period was provided by Charlie Sharples after he had taken over from fellow England wing Jonny May, who left the field temporarily with a cut eye. Sharples sped away from two defenders to score in the corner, with Burns adding the conversion. Searle’s third penalty cut the gap to four points but May returned to help add a second try after the break, trapping a grubber kick between his legs five metres out and then popping it up for Burns to race to the posts. Lewis Ludlow and Max Crompton exchanged tries before May bagged the bonus point with the last play by running in a move started by Sharples behind his own line.