RUGBY: New-look Cirencester let it slip at North Bristol (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Cirencester push second-placed North Bristol all the way

12:59pm Monday 22nd October 2012 in Sport

Tribute Western Counties North.

North Bristol 22 Cirencester 15.

CIRENCESTER made the trip down to second-placed North Bristol with a new-look front row following recent injuries and players being unavailable.

Veteran Parry passed the kicking duties to James Fisher who gave Ciren an early lead with a well-struck penalty. This was soon cancelled out with a strong driving maul the Ciren forwards could do little to stop. The conversion was added giving the Bristol outfit an early advantage.

The away side soon started to find their stride and were rewarded with a well-taken try by back-rower Will McCarthy, who looped centre Fisher, handed off the opposing loose-head prop and crashed over the line.

An immediate lack of concentration then punished Ciren with North Bristol responding for a score of their own following a defensive mix-up. They missed the conversion but added a penalty early in the second half to stretch their lead.

Cirencester’s grit and determination managed to keep them in the game and hard hitting by Dave Evans and Alex Buchelek set the tone. Fisher then read a North Bristol backs move to perfection, intercepting a long pass and touched down under the posts before adding the extras.

Ciren were now only three points behind but North Bristol played to their strengths and kicked to the corners at every opportunity. They caught and drove on numerous occasions, the majority of which Ciren rebuffed. However, the home side’s patience was eventually rewarded when their hooker touched down and the conversion was added.

This concluded the scoring, leaving Ciren with a losing bonus point but frustrated they hadn’t won a game.

MoM: Alex Buchelek and Chris Thorn.