Sin-bins no skin off nose of rampant Bears

TWO sides in desperate need for a win went headto-head but Bristol Bears will be travelling home the happier after grabbing a 140 win at Firwood Waterloo.

Waterloo lost their last four games before the Christmas break and Bristol had lost five in a row before a morale-boosting victory over high-flying Loughborough Lightning.

The visitors suffered an early sin-binning as Poppy Leitch was punished for constant infringement at the breakdown.

Bristol were on the back foot and the hosts attacked from their five-metre line, but the visitors held firm and tried to steady the ship with 14 players.

A stealthy interception gifted Bristol the chance to build the phases and they worked an opening on the left-hand side for Cat McNaney to score in the corner, Lucy Attwood adding the extras.

Loo were guilty of misjudgement and poor handling in key areas and passed up the chance to cut the deficit when Bethany Stott missed her penalty just before the half-hour.

A second yellow card quickly followed for the away side however, as Ash Neale was cut down by an illegal high tackle.

But moments later a line break saw the Bears put over Attwood for the second try and she converted her own score.

Despite Rachel Porter’s introduction at scrum-half and plenty of industry in possession, Firwood’s couldn’t get on the board.

Firwood head coach coach Giles Heagerty reflected: “It was a disappointing result brought about by our own mistakes. We played some great rugby but need to cut down errors.