South Gloucestershire | Archive | 2006 | February | 3
From the archive, first published Friday 3rd Feb 2006.
Western Counties North League North Bristol 15 Bristol Harlequins 17
NORTH BRISTOL saw an eight-point second half lead evaporate along with their hopes of victory at home to Bristol Harlequins.
Defeat was hard to bear for the home side, whose combative attacks put Harlequins on the back foot from the off.
Veteran scrum-half Derek Miles urged his forwards on and drives from outstanding number eight Nigel Smith and lock Ross Wilson constantly got in behind the gain line.
After seven minutes, Smith fed the impressive Miles from a 15-metre scrum and his quick pass gave right wing Nick Tatum the overlap to score.
A tough conversion from out wide by Martin Lambourne sneaked over off the cross bar to give North a 7-0 lead.
Although the home side dominated for much of the half, Harlequins fought back into the game and on the half hour several attacking phases were rewarded with a try for their open side flanker and the levelling conversion followed.
Despite good set piece possession from scrum and lineouts in the first half, where lock Mark Smith celebrated his 300th game with some useful catches, North could only advance their cause by a simple Lambourne penalty goal for a 10-7 interval lead.
However, just after the restart, a rare kick ahead from Smith gave North Bristol good position and alert marking from Lambourne allowed him to charge down a hesitant kick-out and he dribbled over the line from 30 metres, although his conversion attempt missed to leave the score at 15-7.
A Quins penalty made it 15-10 soon after and an easy converted try gave the visitors a little-deserved two-point advantage.
North fought hard to salvage a game they had dominated for long periods but both Lambourne and Dan Ridley fluffed drop goal attempts and the final chance went when Lambourne missed a difficult penalty shot from 45 metres.
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