Bristol derby delight

BRISTOL beat Gloucester for the first time in the Premiership in 11 years after a pulsating, six-try West country derby. With the clock in overtime, Gloucester launched one last push to snatch victory from a close-range line-out. But Bristol repelled the rolling maul which followed and their reward is to jump above Leicester in the table. Gloucester came into the game having just beaten the top two sides in the league — Exeter and Saracens — while Bristol had lost their last three. But form counted for nothing as the hosts relished the atmosphere created by a crowd of 16,911 at the city’s Ashton Gate football ground. Bristol openside flanker Dan Thomas — who joined from Gloucester last season — was man of the match for a superb display which he topped off with one of the home team’s three tries. Delighted Bristol coach Pat Lam said: ‘I’m very proud of the boys. We had a lot of energy and belief. We showed really good patience and this is one of the best moments of the season for us.’ Gloucester coach Johan Ackermann said: ‘Bristol were excellent but we made too many mistakes. We have to do better away from home.’