Brave 14-man Gloucester beaten by Bristol,
FOURTEEN-MAN Gloucester suffered a 39-7 West Country derby defeat to Bristol Bears as returning fans saw a crazy encounter at Ashton Gate.
Bristol managed to secure a bonus point after squandering numerous chances as tries from Max Malins, Charles Piutau, Ben Earl, Nathan Hughes and Semi Radradra saw the hosts pull away following Santiago Carreras’ first half try for the Cherry and Whites.
The key moment in the match came when Argentine lock Matias Alemanno was sent off after 16 minutes for a tip tackle on Bears captain Steven Luatua to put his side at a disadvantage.
He was due to face a disciplinary hearing last night (Wednesday), but it is likely that his season will now be over.
However, Gloucester made Bristol work for their points and gave a spirited away performance.
“It is a disappointing result,” said Gloucester head coach George Skivington. “I was looking forward to 15 (players) on 15 and it would be a good benchmark for us to see where we are at against the best team in the league.
“Unfortunately, Matias got sent off and it became a bit of a dogfight for us after that.
“I thought the sending-off was fair enough. I don’t think he meant to do it. He was falling back, and it was one of those unfortunate ones.
“I thought we made it hard for Bristol to get their bonus point.
“I thought for the most part the defence was brilliant.
“Bristol are a class team and they found a way in the end.
“It was one of those days. If you get a red card 16 minutes in, it is pretty devastating anywhere, but against Bristol away from home it is about as devastating as it is going to be.”
Their bonus point win took them 12 points clear at the Premiership summit and a home play-off next month is within touching distance.
But they often made hard work of it after Alemanno was sent off, seeing three first-half tries disallowed, fullback Charles Piutau wasting another golden opportunity and then substitute Alapati Leiua and Piutau having scores
If you get a red card 16 minutes in, it is pretty devastating anywhere, but against Bristol away from home it is about as devastating as it is going to be
ruled out. It meant that Bristol’s allcourt game often stalled, yet they ultimately prevailed through touchdowns from Piutau, wing Max Malins, flanker Ben Earl, number eight Nathan Hughes and centre Semi Radradra, while flyhalf Callum Sheedy kicked two penalties and four conversions.
Gloucester, despite facing an uphill struggle for more than hour, were admirable in adversity and they arguably deserved more than Argentine wing Carreras’ try, which was converted by Billy Twelvetrees.
Bristol showed one change from the side that beat Bath last time out, with hooker Jake Kerr handed a first start, while a solitary Gloucester switch after they brushed aside Northampton nine days ago saw scrum-half Willi Heinz called up.
Sheedy booted Bristol into a seventhminute lead, with the crowd seemingly cheering every Bristol pass and kick, and he doubled his team’s advantage through a second penalty shortly afterwards.
But cheers quickly turned to boos – in the officials’ direction – after prop Kyle Sinckler had a try disallowed following a brilliant move sparked by scrum-half Andy Uren and Radradra.
Sheedy was lining up the conversion when referee Craig Maxwell-keys was referred to television replays and he ruled an unclear grounding by the England forward.
There was no let-up in the action, though, with Alemanno then dismissed for his reckless challenge on Luatua, before Bristol had another try ruled out, this time after Kerr crossed Gloucester’s line.
Radradra also went close and Gloucester were soon in further strife, being temporarily reduced to 13 men when prop Val Rapava-ruskin was shown a yellow card for a scrummaging infringement.
Bristol were camped inside Gloucester’s half and they finally broke through 13 minutes before half-time.
Another flowing move had Gloucester in retreat and, when possession was quickly recycled, Sheedy freed Malins with a stunning reverse flip-pass and the fly-half converted for a 13-point lead.
Sheedy’s delight turned to frustration shortly afterwards when he had a try disallowed following a knock-on earlier in the move and Gloucester – despite their numerical disadvantage – were somehow still in the contest.
And Bristol then blew another giltedged opportunity. Piutau sprinted clear, but Gloucester full-back Kyle Moyle knocked the ball out of his hands, the try went begging and the visitors trailed just 13-7 at half-time.
George Skivington
Bristol boss Pat Lam made four substitutions, including sending on a new front row, just seven minutes after the restart and another score was disallowed, this time for Leiua after a forward pass had been played earlier in the move.
All the officials’ no-try decisions were correct, but Bristol finally got it right after a rampaging run by lock Chris Vui led to Piutau crossing, then Earl stormed over 13 minutes from time as the home side closed in on a bonus point.
It duly arrived courtesy of another close-range score, this time from Hughes as Bristol ultimately pulled away, with Radradra’s late effort making it 26 unanswered second-half points.