Ackers inspires derby win
Adam Hathaway
Leicester 31 Bristol
Gloucester 29 Bath 15 18
JONNY MAY scored twice to ease Leicester’s relegation worries and give himself a bigger bargaining chip in his contract negotiations.
May touched down in either half as Tigers drew level on points with 10th-placed Wasps, who play today, and kept shamed Saracens at arm’s length.
Bristol were 21-6 down at halftime after prop Jordan Lay and wing Alapati Leiua were sinbinned.
But they gave Leicester a
JOHAN ACKERMANN’S stern words at half-time had the desired effect as his Gloucester team saw off west country rivals
Bath at Kingsholm.
Gloucester overturned a 9-7 interval deficit to finish with a try bonus point and go third in the Premiership.
Ackermann said: “If scare with two scores straight after the break from flanker Dan Thomas and centre Piers O’conor.
But May’s second try, when he finished off full-back Telusa Veainu’s pass, sealed the match and what could be a crucial bonus point.
World Cup finalist May’s deal at Welford Road expires at the end of this season.
But reminding Tigers of his deadly finishing skill won’t have done the winger any harm.
Leicester boss Geordan Murphy said: “He is world-class, isn’t he? Give Jonny the ball in space and he does a good job.
“I thought Veainu could have taken the full-back out – he gave supporters come out and it is a sold-out stadium, we must show at least that we are a better team than what we showed in the first half. We didn’t play like we trained, and I challenged them to take responsibility and play like a team that can play.”
Bath’s recent resurgence came to a halt as they were outscored 4-0 on tries.
Jonny a bit more work to do but he enjoys that.
“The conversations I had with Jonny from the start of the season, he seemed really keen to stay.
“It’s about trying to get the balance right for both parties.”
Worse
Bristol’s day finished on a low when Kiwi full-back Charles Piutau broke his nose and injured his knee, ironically in a challenge from May.
Bears boss Pat Lam said: “It ebbed and flowed, we got ourselves back and blew it at the end. Charles is not great – that makes it doubly worse, I think it is his knee and a broken nose. It
Full-back Jason Woodward, flanker Freddie Clarke, number eight Ruan Ackermann and replacement lock Gerbrandt Grobler all crossed the whitewash, with Billy Twelvetrees kicking two conversions and Danny Cipriani one, while Twelvetrees added a late penalty. Bath relied on five Rhys Priestland doesn’t look good for a few weeks now and John Afoa has done his ribs too.”
Two players who have signed new contracts, Ellis Genge and George Ford, helped Tigers to a 15-point lead at half-time.
Prop Genge powered over after just five minutes, before May’s first try, then fly-half Ford cut the Bristol defence to shreds.
The Bears roared back with Thomas scoring off a driving lineout before fly-half Callum Sheedy chipped brilliantly for O’conor to score. But then came May’s killer blow.
Tries: Genge, May (2), Ford Cons: Ford (4) Pens: Ford.
Tries: Thomas, O’connor Cons: Sheedy Pens: Sheedy (2) penalties for all their points. Buoyed by recent victories over London Irish and Sale Sharks, rugby director Stuart Hooper said: “We are frustrated and disappointed with it.
“Parts of the first half were good, but Gloucester are a fantastic defensive team and we knew it was going to be difficult to score tries against them.”