Category News

The Prem.

Bristol (12) 36

Rees-Zammit 2, Moroni, Heward, Ravouvou, and Oghre Cons: Jordan 2, Williams, and

Newcastle (17) 27

The Red Bulls saw a chance to end their search for a Prem win slip through the fingers of Bristol Bears’ second-half strength as they defeated Newcastle 36-27.

With the victory, Bristol moves up to second place in the table ahead of the final weekend games, with scores from Matias Moroni, Kalaveti Ravouvou, Noah Heward, and Gabriel Oghre.

Newcastle had a try bonus point after an impressive Oli Spencer double, plus tries from Murray McCallum and Ollie Leatherbarrow, gave them a majority of the lead up until the 56-minute mark.

Spencer scored the winning goal with a winger scooping the ball off the ground and diving past Ravouvou to touch down with one hand in six minutes as McCallum completed a smooth passage of varied attacking play.

Bristol made a two-try conversion with two minutes remaining as Rees-Zammit had a chance to raise his arm in the air before diving over for the first try.

When Leatherbarrow headed under the posts as Red Bulls surged further in numbers to make it 17-12, Newcastle still had the half’s final lead.

The visitors’ lead was 20-12 at the start of the second half when Brett Connon’s penalty, which quickly paid off as replacements Oghre and Heward exchanged passes for the latter.

Spencer added his second for Newcastle with a bonus-point score after Sammy Arnold made the line break, Alex Hearle slipped through two defenders, and Sammy Arnold added his second.

But Bristol’s new legs, led by a vicious Ellis Genge, made it three tries clear in ten minutes.

Pat Lam, Bristol’s rugby director, told BBC Radio Bristol: “

“A hard-earned five points, well done to Newcastle, they really took it from us.” We made adjustments in the group, but we weren’t really getting front-foot ball. They slowed down our ball, but some quality did come through at the end.

With the six-day turnaround to Sale [on January 2,] and the addition of some of the boys who weren’t playing today, it’s good to get the five points.

We knew they would score the majority of their tries if they got in, so we talked about nothing and then we would score again and then we would let them in. We’ve got to take a look at ourselves, but some of the penalties we were initially penalized for were undoubtedly questionable.

Alan Dickens, the head coach of the Red Bulls of Newcastle, stated to BBC Radio Newcastle:

The concept of momentum was something we frequently discussed when playing this game.

“We had the momentum in the first half against Bath, but we lost it,” we said, “so we talked about how if we do lose it, how do we get it back?”

Bristol had a purple patch after scoring the fourth try in the second half, which was unfortunate because of how we managed to regain momentum toward the back end of the second half.

“Granted,” they admitted that a small amount of poor discipline led to a 20-minute red card that gave them possession and territory before Bristol could pressure them and not score again, resulting in a tighter conclusion.

Oghre, Genge, Halliwell, Rubiolo, Ivanishvili, Wolstenholme, Worsley, and Lane are the replacements.

Sin bin Kalaveti Ravouvou (77)

Red card 20 mins: Batley (66)

Newcastle: Grayson, Spencer, Hearle, Arnold, Obatoyinbo, Connon, Benitez Cruz, Brocklebank, McGuigan (c), McCallum, Usher, De Chaves, Gordon, Christie, De Chaves, De Chaves, Gordon, Christie, Leatherbarrow.

Fletcher, Hancock, Palframan, Baker, Mafi, Elliott, Hutchison, Chamberlain, and others.

The Prem.

Gloucester (14) 21

Byrne 3 tries: Thomas, Clark, Knight Cons:

Saracens (17) 30

At Kingsholm, Saracens defeated struggling Gloucester 30-21 to put an end to a run of three Prem defeats in a row. Theo McFarland scored twice.

Theo Dan and McFarland both had close-range finishes thanks to Sarries’ strong shooting, but Gloucester came back with two rebounds, one for Freddie Thomas and Arthur Clark.

At the break, only Owen Farrell’s penalty and Ivan van Zyl’s second put the visitors 13 points clear. McFarland’s second and Ivan van Zyl’s score followed.

Will Knight’s last-gasp score was too little, too late for the Cherry and Whites, as a result of a second Farrell penalty extended the lead.

Within the first 20 minutes, Gloucester were already leading after Dan drove low over the line due to injury to outside center Will Butler and Ben Loader.

Tomos Williams, Cherry and Whites captain, revealed to Gloucester on Christmas Day that both the hosts and Gloucester will be missing and that he would make a profit from his participation in the competition.

Second rower Thomas slammed his way over after Sarries’ quick tap-penalty.

After some uncontrollable forward drives, McFarland quickly restored the lead, forcing himself to cross, before Williams once more sparkled with sublime skill just before the break.

Gloucester came back within three points thanks to Ross Byrne’s excellent touchline conversion.

The Saracens forwards, however, increased the intensity with a matchwinning push at the start of the second half despite the wind’s strong influence following the turn.

Farrell jumped above a limping Williams and scored with a perfectly weighted crossfield kick to the right corner after working through 12 phases.

A quick back-of-the-hand offload in the tackle gave Van Zyl a straightforward finish moments later when Jamie George burst from a line-out drive.

Gloucester provided some thrilling moments as they searched for a way out, but the majority of the second half was spent being kept out of the red zone.

After suffering their fourth Prem defeat in five, Saracens had let a significant lead slip away at Exeter, but Farrell’s second penalty put his side three scores clear and out of the view.

Knight finally broke the Sarries’ resistance by showing good footwork and a nice sidestep to the finish in the left corner after the game had been finished and dusted.

Rugby director for Gloucester, George Skivington, stated to BBC Radio Gloucester:

“The game had unquestionable opportunities,” he said. We produced a lot of things that we didn’t take, which was the same as last week’s 45-14 defeat by Leicester.

They used the wind to play a solid game, not too flashy, and came away with a win.

“But yet again, a story similar to last week, even a two-on-one at the end with no one in front of us, which we did not manage to execute,” which is probably a good summary of our situation.

Knowles, Knight, Ford-Robinson, Jordan, Taylor, Austin, Knight, Hathaway, and Knight are the replacements.

Daly, Segun, Cinti, Tompkins, Malins, Farrell, Van Zyl (c), Carre, Dan, Street, Isiekwe, Tizard, McFarland, Onyeama-Christie, Willis, and others.

Replacements: George, Mawi, Tuimauga, Martin Gonzalez, Earl, Bracken, Burke, and Hartley.

Dyche believed Morgan Gibbs-White’s foul on Rayan Cherki’s 83rd-minute winner at the City Ground should have prevented a penalty kick.

He also believed that Ruben Dias, a City defender, should have received a second yellow card during the second half, according to the referee, Rob Jones.

According to Dyche, “so easy to referee, such an easy decision for VAR ,”

“When you played so well, you came in and had to discuss how officials had an impact on the game, which they obviously did.”

Everyone at home and in the stadium could see that.

However, Cherki’s hopes were jest when he fired a half-volley home from the box through Gibbs-White’s legs.

Forest players quickly complained to referee Jones, claiming Nico O’Reilly had prevented them from blocking Cherki’s strike and knocked over Gibbs-White.

“Morgan Gibbs-White quite clearly gets pushed to the floor and the same player is blocking the ball,” Dyche said.

He can’t stop it because, as he jumps up, it passes through the area of his body that he would otherwise have blocked. It’s a foul, no matter how you look at it.

The goal was reviewed by the VAR, but Jones’ on-field choice was ultimately overturned.

They will say, “Yes, the ball wasn’t there,” Dyche continued. Is it going to be a foul if the ball isn’t close to the keeper and you push the keeper to the floor instead?

“It is, we all know. I’m unable to figure it out. The double whammy is then taken out of it by them.

I’m a big fan of VAR, but I’m not sure how you got that right.

The video assistant referee concluded that no “clear and obvious” error was made, according to former official Darren Cann. I concur.

Dyche was upset that Jones chose not to send Dias off.

The Portugal defender complained about a decision against him following his challenge on Igor Jesus and was given the first yellow card for dissention in the first half.

Dias brought Igor Jesus down again as the Forest forward was tearing upfield right away following the restart.

They claim there was an accident. We all know what happens if that’s an accident caused by his running through on goal. A red card appears to you. So why is there an accident and he isn’t yet yellow carded? said Dyche.

“I just find it odd, I think.” And these things are simple, in my opinion. Give him a second yellow, that’s it. You leave now. I’m completely stunned.

Igor Jesus and other Forest players called on Dias to receive a second yellow card, but Jones instead gave Forest a free kick.

Cann claimed that it was an unintended crossover and wasn’t a second yellow for Ruben Dias. There was little contact between him and he was not trying to be difficult.