Harlequins bounce back with six-try victory at Saints
IOAN Lloyd was surplus to requirements for Wales following his international debut last weekend – but Bristol were delighted to have him back as they overcame a spirited Worcester side.
The hugely-talented 19year-old full-back, surely destined for a long and illustrious Wales career, showed the full range of his undoubted ability in a bonus point victory which was secured only in the final 12 minutes.
“Happy to single him out because it’s been a great week for him,” said Bristol boss Pat Lam. “People can see why we brought him in as a youngster. Having the last five weeks with world class players with Wales, you can see he’s going bigger and bigger but he’ll knows there’s more things to learn.”
Starting with a last-ditch tackle to propel Worcester wing speedster Nick David into touch, Lloyd went through the full range of his skills.
Safe under the high ball and always looking to counter-attack, he produced a superb break from inside his own half to create the opening try for Piers O’Connor who had switched from full-back to centre to accommodate his return.
Lloyd, who had already
kicked Bristol into a sixpoint lead with two early penalties, finished with eight points from the tee.
But it was his excellent long-range penalties to touch which finally enabled the Bears to turn the screw and squeeze the resistance out of Worcester as yellow
cards for Andrew Kitchener and Conor Carey reduced the Warriors to 13 men in the closing stages.
Bristol were 11-0 ahead after Lloyd sent O’Connor in but Worcester hit back to stay in touch until the closing stages.
After having his kick charged down, Warriors fly-half Billy Searle retrieved the loose ball to release winger Tom Howe for his second try in two weeks – one more than he scored all last season!
Searle had already landed a penalty but, just before half-time, missed another which would have levelled the scores.
Four minutes after halftime Worcester went ahead when prop Ethan Waller effected a turnover and found skipper Ted Hill who drew the defence before sending No.8 Marco Mama in for a try against his former club.
Bristol were chasing the tries and, following one of several penalties to the corner, Nathan Hughes was held up over the Worcester line.
The tactic paid off minutes later when the backs joined the drive and hooker Brian Byrne grounded the ball with the help of centre Siale Piutau’s shove.
Worcester looked unlucky not to regain the lead in the 63rd minute after a mammoth hit by Oli Morris on Piutau sent the ball flying.
It was snatched by Howe who raced away for his second try only for referee Ian Tempest to rule that the ball had been marginally knocked forward by Morris after several replay viewings.
Worcester’s wheels came off after that with the first of two more kickable penalties into touch ending with Kitchener being sin-binned for hauling down Bristol’s driving maul before the second saw Hughes manhandle Piutau over the line for the skipper’s try.
Worcester went another man down when replacement prop Conor Carey collected a yellow card and handed Bristol a penalty try – and the bonus point – for illegally halting their drive for the line.