BBC SPORT | Rugby Union | English | Shoguns end Bath hoodoo

Bath 19-30 Bristol Shoguns

Bristol Shoguns ended one of the longest losing sequences in top-class rugby with their first victory at Bath since 1981.

More importantly, however, it was a precious four points to aid their climb away from the relegation spot in the Zurich Premiership.

Bristol have suffered much humiliation at Bath ever since rugby became professional.

It means so much to the Bristol fans who have been coming here for so many years and losing

Bristol coach Peter Thorburn

Their supporters, who were drowning out the home fans well before the final whistle, were planning celebrations long into the night.

Bath will point to the fact that they were without almost a full international back line, missing centres Mike Tindall and Kevin Maggs and Mike Catt and Matt Perry.

But they could have few complaints as they were outplayed by a solid-looking Bristol side who belied their position near the foot of the Premiership.

Bristol's Lee Best
Lee Best scored the second of Bristol's three tries

Bath leaked a try within seven minutes as Andrew Higgins brushed aside an ineffectual tackle from Rob Thirlby on a 45-metre dash to the line.

Shane Drahm converted and hardly put a foot wrong for the rest of the game.

After Bath's Chris Malone and Drahm exchanged penalties, Bath closed the gap on the stroke of half time in controversial circumstances.

The Shoguns stared in disbelief at referee John Pearson when he whistled at a scrum, awarding the visitors a penalty when number eight Rhys Oakley was already sprinting for the line.

To add insult to injury, Drahm's kick was wide and Malone pulled back three points in injury time.

We've got five days to sort things out before our match at Sale

Bath coach Michael Foley

But Bristol hit back immediately with the last move of the half, Brendon Daniel coming off his wing to provide the scoring pass for full-back Lee Best.

Drahm converted to give Bristol a healthy 17-6 interval lead.

Bath hit back as Malone kicked a penalty and also converted a penalty try on 53 minutes after Garath Archer was sent to the sin bin, apparently for foul play.

But after Drahm and Malone again exchanged penalties Bristol scored through hooker Paul Johnstone, who burst out of a rolling maul to spring 20 metres to the line on 74 minutes.

Drahm still had time to add another penalty to his conversion and Bristol were able to finally put an end to the hoodoo.

Bath: Thirlby, Danielli, Crockett, Davy, Voyce, Malone, A. Williams, Barnes, Humphries, Mallett, Borthwick, Lyle, Scaysbrook, Beattie, N. Thomas. Replacements: Blake, Mears, Galasso, Mbu, Barkley, Grewcock, Lloyd.

Bristol: Best, Rees, Higgins, Daniel, Drahm, Richards, E. Bergamaschi, Johnstone, Crompton, Archer, A. Brown, Salter, Short, Oakley, Gibson. Replacements: Skuse, S. Morgan, Sturnham, Contepomi, Carrington, Pichot, Nelson.

Referee: D Pearson (RFU)


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