Blues still right on track
As the intense competition for match places enters its final phase, the Blues' last home game before the Varsity match was almost too straightforward to base any definite selection decisions upon.
Bristol, the current leaders of the national first division and favourites for promotion to the Premiership, were repeatedly torn apart by the blistering pace of the Blues attack.
John Bradshaw and Jonan Boto both scored twice, with Ali James and man of the match Ben Durham sharing a try each.
Bradshaw got the ball rolling after ten minutes, collecting John Fennell's pass well low and at pace to score under the posts. Soon after, the returning Ali James charged down an attempted clearance and scored upon getting to the favourable bounce of the loose ball first.
With both sides playing fast, flowing, open rugby, and with few penalties committed, it looked as though it would be a high-scoring game, but Bristol were throughout the team liable to leave a hole in their line.
When Boto broke through four different tackles to score a third, it looked as though the floodgates could open.
Worse was to come for the away side, as after half an hour winger John Rivers found a single gap through the entire Shoguns side charging out to meet him. Bradshaw popped up on the outside for the easiest try of the night.
Bradshaw then turned provider, off-loading to Boto for an easy run-in right on half time.
Bristol started the second half more brightly, but the Blues defence withstood five minutes of pressure before scoring again. The ubiquitous Durham broke through the Shogun line near halfway and showed fabulous pace for a back row to outlast the chasing full back to the line.
Although the copybook was blotted by two tries leaked by a tired looking defence at the death, this was still an impressive performance by the Blues.
The Bristol defence was admittedly shabby, but gaps have to be exploited and Oxford did this to great effect on Monday. The Tabs may prove more miserly.
18th Nov 2004