 Hooker Blaney crossed after 22 minutes to put his side in the lead |
Bristol (10) 13
Try: Blaney
Con: Strange
Pens: Strange 2
Leeds (3) 13
Try: Lund
Con: Brooks
Pens: Brooks 2
Bristol fly-half Jason Strange landed a penalty with 12 minutes left to rescue a draw for his side against Leeds in Sunday's EDF Energy Cup contest. The home side dominated the early stages and they led 10-3 at the break with a try from David Blaney and a conversion and penalty from Strange.
Leeds fly-half James Brooks reduced the deficit after the break before Erik Lund's try put his side in the lead.
But Strange had the final say with his late kick to deny Leeds the win.
And Bristol will rue a second-half mistake when they wasted an opportunity to level the game from a penalty after Lund's score.
They opted to kick for the corner only to lose the resulting line-out.
Bristol coach Richard Hill:
"It was a hard-fought contest and some of our younger players did very well. In terms of the game, with those awful conditions in the first half the 10-3 interval lead didn't look as though it was going to be enough. "Then Leeds scored 10 points in a six-minute spell early in the second half and things were looking ominous but the youngsters and the older guys dug in to scrap a draw.
"James Phillips at number eight was probably the pick of the youngsters. He controlled the back of the scrum and we used him as ball carrier at the short line-outs and he clung on to it. To come out in those conditions and play like that shows a lot of promise."
Leeds director of rugby Stuart Lancaster:
"I thought it was a really competitive game. "In some quarters this was portrayed as a dead rubber but I don't think any game at this level is going to be one of those. I didn't treat it that way and I know that Richard Hill at Bristol didn't either.
"It was a great opportunity for both of us to try fringe players and young players.
"Some of these lads could be in future selections and I want those players that we have rested to be sat at home thinking he played in my position. It was a game to a certain extent dictated by the conditions."
Bristol: Luke Arscott; Lee Robinson, Sam Cox, Kevin Maggs, Craig Morgan; Jason Strange, Brian O'Riordan; Ray Hogan, David Blaney, Darren Crompton, Dave Attwood, Gareth Llewellyn, Matt Salter (capt), Redford Pennycook, James Phillips
Replacements: Scott Linklater, Dave Hilton, Josh Brown, Chevvy Pennycook, Graeme Beveridge, Ed Barnes, Luke Eves
Leeds Carnegie: Jon Goodridge; Scott Armstrong, Jonny Hepworth, Lee Blackett, Apo Satala; James Brooks, Joe Bedford (capt); Fosi Pala'amo, Phil Nilsen, Adam Hopcroft, Erik Lund, Pablo Bouza, Jon Dunbar, Martin Schusterman, Rhys Oakley
Replacements: Mike MacDonald, Vili Ma'asi, Michael Cusack, Andy Boyde, Darren Edwards, Rob Vickerman, John Holtby
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