 Jason Hobson's try put Bristol on their way to victory |
Bristol (8) 22
Tries: Hobson, Pozzebon, Stanojevic
Cons: Gray 2
Drop: Gray
Bath (8) 15
Tries: Bell, Stephenson
Pen: Malone
Con: Malone
Bristol's stirring start to the season continued as Marko Stanojevic's late try snatched victory over West Country neighbours Bath in the EDF Energy Cup.
Prop Jason Hobson's try put Bristol 8-3 up after a Chris Malone penalty had cancelled out Danny Gray's drop-goal.
Bath tight-head Duncan Bell plunged over to make it 8-8 at the interval only for Bristol to edge ahead again through Walter Pozzebon's try.
Michael Stephenson's try levelled it again but Stanojevic pounced late on.
Gray, who had missed several kicks earlier in the strong wind, converted from the touchline via the crossbar to put the seal on another impressive performance.
The surprise early Premiership leaders made 12 changes for the match, resting most of their first-choice side, but still won despite Bath's second-half dominance.
Bristol's other two pool games are both away, at Gloucester next weekend and the Ospreys, but victory maintained the momentum in their unbeaten start to the season.
Bath will probably have to do without scrum-half Andy Williams, who suffered a shoulder injury, against the Ospreys next Saturday, while Bell also limped off injured.
Bristol assistant coach Paul Hull:
"Along with Martin Haag we work as a team under (head coach) Richard (Hill). This week I have been responsible for preparations while next week will be Martin's turn. "It was an important game for many of those guys as they challenge for a
place in our Premiership starting line-up.
"They defended really well so it will give the selectors a few headaches I'm
sure with their never-say-die attitude.
"The leadership of Matt Salter, as club captain, has filtered right through
the squad and that could be seen especially in the second half as the defence never gave up.
"We also took our chances at the other end of the field having the
intelligence and confidence to actually score a try and win the game."
Bath coach Steve Meehan:
"I just thought we put ourselves under too much pressure caused by
silly mistakes. "One error would follow another so we found it difficult to get
out of our own half."
Bristol: Stortoni; Stanojevic, Pozzebon, Reay, Lemi; Gray, O'Riordan; Clarke, Blaney, Hobson, Sambucetti, Budgett, To'oala, Short, Lewis.
Replacements: Irish, Nelson, Attwood, Martin-Redman, Thompson, Nicholls, Arscott.
Bath: Perry; Stephenson, Cheeseman, Berne, Davey; Malone, Williams; Barnes, Hawkins, Bell; Fidler, Faamatuainu; Scaysbrook, Goodman, Feau'nati.
Replacements: Brooker, Flatman, Short, Smith, Travagli, Maddock, Abendanon.
Referee: Sean Davey (RFU)
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