GreenUn 18 November 2013

GreenUn

MON

Your 20-page Monday sports special

Only a point for

Rovers

18 NOV 2013

“

I had a feeling he was going to score a goal in this game.

I’m not just saying that, it was because of the way he had been in the build-up to the game – City head coach Sean O’Driscoll Pages 2-3

Bristol prop Jason Hobson in the wars again

Pages 10-11

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Non-league football | Pages 12-14

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We had a bad run at the start of the season, but I feel as though the performances have picked up in recent weeks. We haven’t been winning too many games, but we have definitely made a step in the right direction – John-Joe O’Toole Pages 6-7

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Monday, November 18, 2013

Tranmere vs Bristol City | Penton Park, Saturday, November 16

Player Rating (out of 10) ● Elliot Parish: He did what he had to do with a minimum of fuss.

6

● Brendan Moloney: Good contest with Kirby and got forward to support attack.

7

● Aden Flint: Immense in the air, he put his body on the line for the cause.

7

● Karleigh Osborne: He never shirked a challenge, he defended stoutly throughout.

7

● Simon Gillett: Thrived in central midfield where his range of passing impressed.

6

● Marlon Pack: A real force in the engine room, he drove the team on.

7

● Bobby Reid: A great assist for the goal and looked at home in No 10 role.

6

● Nicky Shorey: Vastly experienced, he used the ball well and had a decent game.

6

● Jay Emmanuel-Thomas: Dangerous at times, but given little chance to inflict damage.

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● Sam Baldock: Led the line effectively, took his goal supremely well and could have had another.

7

Star man ● Greg Cunningham: Strong in defence, he also gave his team an outlet on the left.

7

Tranmere Rovers Jason Mooney – 6 Danny Holmes – 6 Ash Taylor – 7 Jim McNulty – 6

Liam Ridehalgh – 6 Abdulai Baggie – 6 Chris Atkinson – 7 Max Power – 6

Jason Koumas – 7 Jake Kirby – 7 Ryan Lowe – 6

Substitutions Tranmere: Jean-Louis Akpa-Akpro for Baggie (79 mins).

City: Marvin Elliott for Gillett (68 mins), Ryan Taylor for Reid (90 mins).

Referee

City finally look to be

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T MAY not have felt like it at the time, but a point at Prenton Park represented another significant stepping stone in Bristol City’s quest to acclimatise to life in League One. A process that began with a win at Carlisle United three weeks earlier, is now gathering serious momentum.

City’s next milestone achievement was to beat Crawley Town 2-0 at Ashton Gate and end a frustrating eight-month wait for a league win at home. In doing so, Sean O’Driscoll’s young side also mustered their first clean sheet of the season in League One. The impression was always going to be put to the test on the Wirral against Tranmere, who were equally desperate to pull clear of the bottom four.

Despite a four-match unbeaten run and the acquisition of seven valuable points, there remained a lingering fear that City might suffer the kind of setback that would send them sliding inexorably back to square one.

Thankfully, those fears were allayed as the Robins served up the kind of performance that suggests they are eminently capable of maintaining their forward momentum in the weeks and months to come.

The Robins proved they can be every bit as enterprising as they are resilient in a first half which saw them dominate a Tranmere side that struggled to find an answer to impressive speed of thought and foot.

Sam Baldock’s first goal in eight outings was the direct result of renewed confidence.

Afforded a platform by Simon Gillett and Marlon Pack’s impressive range of passing, City quickly found a rhythm and tempo that made a mockery of their league position. Certainly, Tranmere’s flat-footed defenders were exposed when City’s bright start yielded the most incisive move of the contest after just 13 minutes.

A born number 10 if ever there was one, academy product Bobby Reid split Tranmere’s back four asunder with a perfectly-weighted through ball and Baldock, having timed his run to spring the off-side trap, did the rest.

Although he was running away from goal and on his weaker left foot, City’s captain still had the presence of mind to do the right thing, shooting early and low to beat keeper Jason Mooney.

In an ideal world, City would have

Andy

Stockhausen

Expert analysis Tranmere

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Bristol City

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added a second goal and put the outcome beyond doubt before the hosts awakened from their slumbers. Jay Emmanuel-Thomas saw enough of the ball to trouble Rovers and he had two opportunities to provide breathing space, firing wastefully high and wide and then drawing a smart finger-tip save from Mooney.

But goals change games and Tranmere profited from their first meaningful shot on target four minutes before the break, Jake Kirby

7 ● The number of games Sam Baldock had gone without a goal

pulling the ball back into the path of left-back Liam Ridehalgh, whose drive took a helpful deflection off Aden Flint’s boot on its way into the far corner of the net.

The equaliser offered the home side much-needed encouragement at a key juncture of the contest and they emerged for the second half with the bit between their teeth.

Placed under sustained pressure for the first time, the Robins lost their way for a time, enabling Tranmere, prompted by the experienced Jason Koumas, to build up a head of steam.

City’s players acknowledged the changing circumstances and met the demands of the day in magnificent fashion, putting their bodies on the line in a bid to protect their goal.

Bombarded by a series of high balls into their penalty area, the Robins stood up to the aerial bombardment as central defenders Karleigh Osborne and Flint orchestrated an impressive backs-to-the-wall operation.

They were not alone; City defended

for their lives from front to back and even those not renowned for their defensive qualities were to be found making crucial blocks and last-ditch tackles.

The victims of late goals conceded at Crewe, Port Vale and Swindon earlier this season, City would almost certainly have lost this fixture a month ago. But they have since discovered the art of digging in and surviving when things are not going their way, a trait that served them well on this occasion. The fact keeper Elliot Parish was hardly tested during a second half in which they soaked up sustained pressure said it all.

O’Driscoll introduced the robust Marvin Elliott and Ryan Taylor from the bench to afford his side the additional inches they required to combat Tranmere’s aerial threat and City rallied sufficiently to turn the tide in the closing stages.

Had Mooney not pulled off another startling save to keep out Baldock’s fierce shot and the full-stretch Ridehalgh not intercepted an Emmanuel-Thomas cross intended for the unmarked Reid, City would have returned home with all three points.

On a day when they combined free-flowing attacking football with stout defending, a draw was the very least City’s character-filled performance warranted. That they were able to match Tranmere blow for blow was all the more impressive given the disruption caused by injuries to wide players Scott Wagstaff and Joe Bryan and the absence of in-form centre-back Derrick Williams.

The fact players, management and travelling fans alike still expected to take some tangible reward from the game says everything about the improvements made in recent weeks and victory over Sheffield United at home next Saturday will render a point gained in difficult circumstances still more satisfying.

Match reaction

Kevin Wright (Cambs) . . . gave City precious little throughout

Match facts Home 5

Away 5

Offsides

9 8 5 1

2 3 13 1

Attendance

4,932

Shots on target Shots off target Corners

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Fouls conceded

CITY head coach Sean O’Driscoll was not in the least bit surprised Sam Baldock ended his long wait for a goal on the Wirral.

Baldock last netted in a 1-1 draw against Colchester United on September 28, since when he had gone seven games without finding the back of the net.

But O’Driscoll sensed a goal was coming after observing his captain closely in training last week.

“I had a feeling he was going to score a goal in this game,” said

O’Driscoll. “I’m not just saying that, it was because of the way he had been in the build-up to the game.

“He’d been sharp in training and really focussed and he showed that in the way he finished.

“Sam was going away from goal and he’s hit it with his weaker left foot with hardly any back lift.

“Strikers who haven’t scored for a little while need to stay focussed and keep doing the right things and that is what Sam has done.

“If you’re going to be a goalscorer,

you’re going to have to be prepared to miss. You can’t make it perfect all the time, because you will never score.

“Speed of shot is one of his attributes and he’s done well to hit it early. He had another great chance near the end, but the keeper’s made a really good save.”

Baldock paid tribute to team-mate Bobby Reid after firing the Robins into a 13th-minute lead at Prenton Park. Although City’s captain timed his run perfectly and produced an incisive finish, he owed his first goal

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adjusting to life in League One

● City’s Aden Flint thanks the fans

● City’s Mitch Brundle

● City striker Sam Baldock fires in his side’s goal against Tranmere at Prenton Park

● City fans keep warm at Prenton Park

● JET is beaten in the air by a Tranmere defender

O’Driscoll felt his side would have gone on to win had they still been in front at half-time.

He said: “I’m disappointed with the goal we conceded just before half time, because I felt we were controlling the game and things would have been different if we had got to half time 1-0 up. We looked comfortable when we were in front, but we also defended really well. After it went to 1-1, we lost a bit of momentum and had to dig in. We didn’t look as though we were going to concede.”

Fan’s view by Matthew Withers AN away point against Tranmere might not be the greatest result in the world, but it keeps our mini unbeaten run going.

The head coach, Sean O’Driscoll, was forced into making changes due to injury and the international matches.

Following on from the FA Cup victory against Daggenham & Redbridge, it was important that we took something from the match.

Tranmere are one of the teams like us battling to stay out of the relegation zone and it was important not to let them get ahead of us.

Karleigh Osborne slotted back into the centre of defence alongside Aden Flint with Derrick Williams away on international duty.

Osborne was impressive again and doesn’t try to be something that he is not.

The Millwall loanee is a defender and that’s what he does – defend.

Simon Gillett was also recalled to the starting line-up and as a result Bobby Reid was moved to the right side of midfield.

That is another example of the lack of depth in the squad. Reid is not a wide man, although he gave 100 per cent. With the injury to Joe Bryan, Greg Cunningham retained his place at the back and was again solid.

It was great to see Sam Baldock hit the back of the net again. He has been on a barren run of late, but has never stopped working. Sam is an example to all City youngsters. The front man gives everything for the team and often at the expense of himself.

JET tends to get all the headlines, but it’s his fellow frontman’s work that allows JET to have the freedom that he needs.

All in all it was a battling display and it was a game that going back a few weeks we would certainly have lost.

There were some comings and goings this week with Neil Kilkenny moving out on loan to Preston North End and Liam Monelle signing a short-term contract after he impressed on trial at Ashton Gate.

Kilkenny struggled to win the majority of City fans over since signing from Leeds United and never really imposed himself on games. There was no doubting that Kilkenny was a decent footballer, but he seemed to want to play sideways and backwards and spent most of his time moaning at the officials or his team-mates.

Midfielder Monelle, has signed from Mangotsfield United. There are a lot of promising youngsters in and around the local football scene and with our change in structure this will be a source for players of the future.

Next up is a home game against Sheffield United, another of our relegation rivals, and again it’s important that we stay ahead of them.

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in eight games to Reid’s precise through ball.

“It was a great ball through to me and that is what Bobby does really well,” said Baldock.

“He is a natural number 10 and he is at his best in that withdrawn role behind the striker. He played the ball right into my path and made it easy for me to shoot early. Tranmere’s keeper (Jason Mooney) is 6ft 9in and I knew that, if I hit the ball low either side of him, he would struggle to get down to it.”

Pictures: Dougie Allward

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Monday, November 18, 2013

Tranmere vs Bristol City | Penton Park, Saturday, November 16

● City’s Jay Emmanuel-Thomas fires in a shot during the 1-1 draw against Tranmere Rovers at Prenton Park on Saturday

Pictures: Dougie Allward

● Marlon Pack lunges for the ball against Tranmere

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● Tranmere’s goalscorer Liam Ridehalgh

● City’s Marvin Elliot shadows a Tranmere’s Jason Koumas

● City’s players look disconsolate after letting their lead slip at Prenton Park

● JET rises for the ball

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Tranmere vs Bristol City | Penton Park, Saturday, November 16

● City's Greg Cunningham runs the ball out of defence against Tranmere

● City’s head coach Sean O’Driscoll looks on

● City’s Sam Baldock holds off the challenge of Tranmere’s Ash Taylor during the 1-1 draw at Prenton Park

● Bristol City's Sam Baldock tackles Tranmere Rovers’ Jason Koumas

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● Tranmere’s Prenton Park ground before the action started against Bristol City on Saturday afternoon

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Fan’s view with Dennis Payter ROVERS fought back well in the second half of this game, but it was disappointing we could not beat another struggling team in Bury at the Memorial Stadium.

I know John Ward prefers to look at it as now having gone four games unbeaten, yet the worrying fact is that we are once again only two points off the bottom of League Two. It is now getting on for nearly three months since we won a home game and, although some of our football has been good recently, Rovers do seem to lack the killer instinct.

After our great win at Oxford and brilliant fight back against York in the FA Cup, I felt that Bury at home was a game we should win to kick-start our league season again.

You can only dream of the start we got on Saturday, a brilliant solo run past two defenders

by Eliot Richards, who forced another visiting defender to bring him down. Yet just like we did at Accrington, the early goal meant we went into our shell instead of going for the jugular of another struggling side.

John-Joe O’Toole’s penalty should have been just the confidence boost the side needed, but I could not understand how they allowed the Shakers to take over, missing plenty of chances before getting the equaliser.

Rovers were just like a boxer on the ropes, waiting for the bell and were relieved when the half-time whistle blew.

It was one of those days where it was difficult to pick out anyone who was having a good game and how often is it that when the standard of play is very poor that the referee is also having a shocker?

I hope the half-time tea was in plastic cups for the players’ sake because John Ward must have been as frustrated as we were at the first 45 minutes.

Whatever the manager said to them certainly did the trick, because Rovers came out fired up in the second half, taking the game to Bury, leaving us wondering why they couldn’t do it in the first half.

Michael Smith and Lee Brown again looked good overlapping, while Alefe Santos got more into the game after a very quiet first half. Richards surprisingly faded after his dazzling run for the penalty and only came good again in the last 15 minutes.

Rovers could not be faulted for their effort in the last quarter of the game as Bury were hanging on when we forced corner after corner. The visitors’ uncompromising defenders allowed danger man Matt Harrold very little space, although he was unlucky with one soaring header late in the game that went just wide.

Four games unbeaten we may be, but it is a worry that we don’t look any better than teams like Bury and York in home games.

You have to think if we can’t beat teams like this at home and Accrington away, where are our wins going to come from?

Monday, November 18, 2013

Bristol Rovers vs Bury | Memorial Stadium, Saturday, November 16

Rovers’ unbeaten run is a cause for optimism

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HERE were a number of questions that were left hanging in the air upon conclusion of manager John Ward’s post-match press conference after Bristol Rovers ended all-square with Bury at the Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

Cup half-full or cup half-empty?

Are Rovers’ supporters happy that their side are now four games unbeaten or are they miserable over the fact that the side has won just once since August 31? Some supporters will be happy that Rovers have responded to a poor defeat at Accrington Stanley on October 22 by avoiding defeat in the following four games, Ward reasoned. Others will wallow in the misery of a run that has seen Rovers claim just one win in their last 13 games, the manager added.

There are some, however, who will, perhaps, be neither happy nor miserable about Rovers’ form, maybe they will be somewhere in between – optimistic, possibly, even if the word ‘optimism’ should probably be pre-

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There have been signs on the pitch over recent weeks, however, that Rovers may finally be starting to move in the right direction

James McNamara

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ceded by the word ‘cautious’, such has been the unpredictability of Rovers’ form since the start of the season.

There have been signs on the pitch over recent weeks, however, that Rovers may finally be starting to move in the right direction. The players may still be finding consistent victories hard to come by, yet consistency of performance has certainly improved in the last month or so to suggest that Ward’s side have made progress, albeit slow, regardless of what the league table currently says. This Rovers side may be two points worse off than they were after

James

McNamara Expert analysis Bristol Rovers

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Bury

1

the first 16 games of last season, yet the prospects of the side that took to the field for the 1-1 draw with Bury on Saturday certainly look a lot more promising than those that performed so poorly in a defeat at Rochdale this time 12 months ago.

Ironically, then manager Mark McGhee was asked after that game whether he had endured a ‘miserable’ afternoon. That wasn’t the word to describe it, he said at the time. Those who were there to witness it first-hand, however, were left feeling that ‘miserable’ was a word that summed events at Spotland perfectly.

Miserable is a word that certainly can’t be used to sum up Rovers’ performance in Saturday’s draw at the Memorial Stadium – although those who may have used it along with some other more industrial language after the opening 45 minutes would not have been too far wide of the mark.

Rovers had enjoyed a perfect start to proceedings when John-Joe O’Toole converted a third-minute penalty-kick after Eliot Richards’ swashbuckling run from the halfway line had been ended illegally by Bury full-back Shaun Beeley inside the penalty area.

For the remaining 42 minutes of the first-half, however, Rovers were second-best in all departments. It was little surprise when Danny Hylton plundered a 36th-minute equaliser from close-range after Rovers had let another of the numerous crosses that Bury had delivered into their penalty area sail unchallenged across the face

of goal. The only surprising thing was that it had taken Bury so long to restore parity during an opening period when they were first to almost every second ball, while, driven on by impressive central midfielder Tom Soares, showed an attacking intent and level of performance that made a mockery of the fact that they are currently below Rovers in the League Two table.

The equaliser should have come some 15 minutes earlier; Bury striker Shaun Harrad guilty of the worst miss seen in front of the Blackthorn End since Pavel Pogrebnyak scooped an attempt over the crossbar of an open goal from similar distance for Reading in a pre-season friendly over the summer.

Steve Mildenhall also had to get fingertips to the ball to prevent winger Chris Sedgwick from converting a deliciously curled free-kick from all of 25 yards before Rovers headed down the tunnel to receive what O’Toole described as a ‘rocket up the backside’ from their less-than-satisfied manager.

The words exchanged certainly appeared to have an effect as Rovers returned to produce a vastly improved second-half performance that at least managed to maintain some of the momentum gathered over recent weeks.

A change in formation that saw forward Chris Beardsley dropped a little deeper after Ward had started in a positive frame of mind with two out-and-out strikers also played a part in helping Rovers gain greater

● Rovers’ Eliot Richards is brought possession higher up the pitch, which served to offer winger Alefe Santos more of the ball to threaten Bury with a number of penetrating deliveries into their penalty area.

What would have been a decisive goal, however, remained elusive and supporters, whether happy or sad, filed away from the ground with Always Look on the Bright Side of Life ringing in their ears. Four games unbeaten allied with slowly improving performances, for the time being anyway, suggests we all probably should.

Read James’ stories by following JamesMcNamara at www.bristolpost.co.uk

Match reaction MIDFIELDER John-Joe O’Toole feels that Bristol Rovers are slowly starting to turn a corner following some improved performances in recent weeks.

O’Toole, pictured, scored from the penalty spot during a 1-1 draw against Bury at the Memorial Stadium on Saturday to help Bristol Rovers extend their unbeaten run to four games.

He said: “It would have been nice to have won the game, but we are

unbeaten in four and that is a positive we can build on before we go to York for the FA Cup replay on Tuesday.

“We had a bad run at the start of the season, but I feel as though the performances have picked up in recent weeks.

“We haven’t been winning too many games, but we have definitely made a step in the right direction.

“I do feel we are going into each

game with a little bit more confidence and I hope that we might be starting to turn a corner.”

O’Toole, meanwhile, says that he now believes he is Rovers’ recognised penalty taker after scoring twice from the spot in his last two games.

Striker Matt Harrold and defender Lee Brown have also accepted the role in recent times, but O’Toole said: “There had been some loose discussions about that, so I’d say I am officially on penalties for the time being.”

O’Toole’s composed third-minute spot-kick offered Rovers an early ad-

● A can-can troupe entertain the Rovers’ fans

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Monday, November 18, 2013

Player Rating (out of 10)

down by Bury’s Shaun Beeley to earn the home side an early penalty at the Memorial Stadium

Pictures: Neil Brookman

● Steve Mildenhall: Dealt well with the aerial bombardment into his penalty area throughout the first-half and made a couple of decent saves.

7

● Michael Smith: Typically tenacious display from the full-back. Got forward and linked up well with Alefe Santos down the right in the second half.

7

● Tom Parkes: Had a right old ding dong with Danny Hylton and was unlucky not to score with a header in the second half.

7

● Will Packwood: Not quite at his best, but has been a good addition in the absence of Mark McChrystal.

6

● Lee Brown: Had the better of Bury right winger Chris Sedgwick for the most part and played well througout.

7

● Ollie Clarke: Not quite at the high level we’ve seen him produce in other games over recent weeks.

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● John-Joe O’Toole: Slotted away a penalty in the early stages, but had a tough job chasing Tom Soares around for most of the afternoon.

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● Eliot Richards: Got Rovers a penalty for the second time in recent games with another swashbuckling early run.

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● Matt Harrold: Still playing his way back in after a spell out injured. Had a couple of half-chances.

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● Chris Beardsley: Linked the play really well and did a lot of good work with his back to goal.

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Star man

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● Alefe Santos: Quiet in the first half, but produced his most accomplished and composed display for Rovers so far during the second half.

York City Brian Jensen – 7 Shaun Beeley – 6 Richard Hines – 6 Nathan Cameron – 7

Dean Howell – 7 Andy Proctor – 7 Tom Soares – 8 Danny Mayor – 7

Shaun Harrad – 6 Danny Hylton – 8 Chris Sedgwick – 7

Substitutions ● John-Joe O’Toole scores for Rovers

● Rovers’ Alefe Santos skips past a Bury defender

Rovers: Tom Lockyer for Clarke (61 mins), Ellis Harrison for Santos (80 mins).

Bury: William Edjenguele for Hines (12), Craig Jones for Sedgwick (55), Daniel Nardiello for Harrad (66).

of help in midfield because it was quite hard in there.

“That was a massive help and we were generally just a bit brighter all round.”

Rovers, however, have still not managed to win in front of their own fans at the Memorial Stadium since August 31.

O’Toole added: “The fans deserve a win. We gave our all and tried our hardest, but maybe we lacked a little bit of quality at times.

“If they stick with us and keep giving us their backing I’m sure the win won’t be too long in coming.”

Referee Andy Davies. . .Didn’t get involved in anything controversial

Match facts Shots on target Shots off target Corners Fouls conceded Offsides Attendance

Home 6 7 11 17 5 5,334

Away 5 6 4 12 2

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fans at half-time

vantage before Bury restored parity off the boot of striker Danny Hylton after dominating the majority of the opening period.

“Even though we got the early goal, we were slow to start,” O’Toole admitted.

“Bury beat us up a little bit and the gaffer got into us at half-time.

“We needed a rocket up our backsides and I think it helped us came out a lot stronger in the second half, but a draw was probably a fair result in the end.

“We brought striker Chris Beardsley a bit deeper and that was a big help. It gave me and Ollie Clarke a bit

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Monday, November 18, 2013

Bristol Rovers vs Bury | Memorial Stadium, Saturday, November 16

● Rovers’ players congratulate John-Joe O’Toole after his successful penalty-kick gave his side an early lead against Bury

Pictures: Neil Brookman

● The Rovers’ players take to the Memorial Stadium pitch

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● A Rovers’ mascot enjoys himself

● Rovers’ Matt Harrold rises to put in a powerful header against Bury

● Rovers’ Chris Beardsley sees his effort go just wide of the Bury goal

● Ken Masters salutes the crowd

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Monday, November 18, 2013

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Bristol Rovers vs Bury | Memorial Stadium, Saturday, November 16

● Star Man Alefe Santos puts in a cross for Rovers in the 1-1 draw with Bury

● Chris Beardsley, right, challenges Bury's Dean Howell

● Rovers’ Matt Harrolds wins a header from Bury's Dean Howell

● Rovers’ fans show their appreciation as the teams take to the field

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● The half-time entertainment warms the Memorial Stadium crowd with a dazzling performance

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Minute by minute

5 16 21 28 40 +3 40 +8

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42 80

The prolific Juan Pablo Socino kicks Rotherham into an early lead when Bristol are penalised for handling at a ruck – 0-3.

After a mind-numbing seven successive scrums, five metres out, Bristol work the ball wide and Redford Pennycook dives over in the corner – 5-3 With two Rotherham players in the sin-bin, Bristol make their numerical advantage count when Adam D’Arcy scores in the corner after a penalty is kicked to touch – 10-3

Ruki Tipuna taps and goes in the Rotherham 22, getting to the line for his side’s third try – 17-3

Bristol opt to kick their first penalty since the second game of the season – and Tristan Roberts finds the middle of the posts – 20-6

After two more efforts from Socino, another Roberts penalty gives Bristol a 14-point lead at the break – 23-9

Monday, November 18, 2013

Bristol vs Rotherham | Memorial Stadium, Sunday, November 17

Bristol dig deep to hold off Rotherham’s revival

I

F the mark of a good team is the ability to respond positively to a setback, then Bristol – if they are not there already – are clearly on their way to becoming a very good team.

Having lost against London Welsh, the GKIPA Championship leaders, seven days earlier, Bristol responded by claiming a bonus-point victory against the team in second place – denying Rotherham a losing bonus point in the process.

Bristol have now taken six try-scoring bonus points from their eight Championship games this season.

Last season, they managed six in the whole campaign.

But these are days of lofty standards at the Memorial Stadium – and it is typical of Andy Robinson and Sean Holley’s meticulous approach that even a bonus-point victory over the team in second place can be met without any visible joy.

Coach Holley, in his post-match interviews, was willing to accentuate certain positives – namely another rampant start and an improved cohesion in defence – but the overriding theme was one of how Rotherham had been able to get back into the contest from 30-9 down.

At that stage, when Charlie Amesbury latched on to Tristan Roberts’ kick beyond the visiting defence, 70 seconds into the second half, Bristol looked set to deliver the most emphatic of responses to the previous weekend’s stumble.

In the end, they managed to deny Rotherham a point, which could prove significant later in the season, but not without a few heart-fluttering moments as the Yorkshiremen fought back – first to 30-16, then to 33-23, and then, rather worryingly, to 33-26.

At that stage, with Bristol down to 14 men after Gaston Cortes had been sent to the sin-bin, the resurgent Titans must have been sniffing blood.

But Bristol, to their credit, remained resolute, and, when replacement fly-half Adrian Jarvis knocked over a last-minute penalty, a collective sigh of relief was breathed in all four corners of the Memorial Stadium.

When Bristol had stormed into a

Steve

Cotton

Expert analysis Bristol

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Rotherham Titans

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17-3 lead, it looked as if they would be able to write their own final scoreline, such was their dominance in the key areas. They left Rotherham – who briefly had to play with 13 men due to two forwards seeing yellow – looking bewildered as they attacked at will.

Bristol knew all about the threat of the Championship’s leading points scorer, Juan Pablo Socino, and it was the Argentinian playmaker who kicked the visitors into an early 3-0 lead.

But Bristol blasted back in what has become typical fashion. Prop Mark Tampin saw yellow for knocking the ball out of Ruki Tipuna’s hands as he prepared to pass under the posts – and, seven scrums and five minutes later, Redford Pennycook was going over in the corner.

Adam D’Arcy was next to score, after Barney Maddison had been yellow-carded for a deliberate knock-on, with Bristol’s policy of turning down three-pointers paying off, as they built from a line-out.

Tipuna, who regularly threw Rotherham on to the back foot by delving into his box of tricks, grabbed the third try from a tap-and-go in the visitors’ 22. Bristol had other chances to score as they attacked at will – but, after a Socino penalty had made it 17-6, they did something they had not done since the second game of the season: they kicked a penalty.

Roberts was successful from the tee, making it 20-6, before he and Socino again exchanged penalties before half-time to give Bristol a 23-9 lead. Not that the move is likely to mark a great shift in philosophy for

Bristol, given they had scored three tries by the time they took their first three-pointer.

“Don’t forget, we scored our early tries before we took shots at goal,” said coach Holley. “The ones we did take were crucial to extend our lead, psychologically, to three scores and then in the end to two scores.

“They were justified in taking them – however, early on, we turned them down and went for the scores, and that manifested itself in the first yellow card and the first try, where we turned down an easy shot at goal and got the five points.”

For 70 seconds of the second half, Bristol were again bewitching, with Amesbury showing blistering pace to chase the kick ahead and score his first try for the club. But for the remaining 38 minutes and 50 seconds, they were disjointed.

At no stage did Bristol look as if they were going to lose the game – not really – but, at 33-26, surely even the most optimistic supporter on the Blackthorn End would not have been particularly confident either.

Rotherham grabbed their first try through Tom Cruse – his team’s Top Gun, who showed All The Right Moves and clearly did not believe Titans were facing Mission: Impossible – before Socino scored a second to give Bristol some concern.

At 33-26, Rotherham had given themselves a chance of at least securing a losing bonus point, but Jarvis kept his cool in the closing seconds to ensure Bristol gained five points on their fellow high-flyers.

● Redford Pennycook on the attack

Key incidents Within 70 seconds of the restart, Charlie Amesbury dives over to seal Bristol’s bonus point try – 30-9

Following 17 more points for Rotherham, and a penalty from Roberts for Bristol, Adrian Jarvis kicks a penalty that gives the home side breathing space – 36-26

ADAM D’Arcy and Charlie Amesbury scored their first tries for Bristol – and Redford Pennycook grabbed his first of the season – as Bristol secured a bonus-point victory over Rotherham.

The victory – with Ruki Tipuna scoring Bristol’s other try – saw Andy Robinson’s side leapfrog the visiting Titans and move into second place in the GKIPA Championship.

Bristol took a 30-9 lead when Amesbury chased Tristan Roberts’ kick to seal Bristol’s bonus point within 70 seconds of the start of the second half – and they were frustrated by how Rotherham clawed their way back to within striking distance.

At one stage, with 16 minutes to play, Rotherham had kicked them-

selves back to within seven points at 33-26, with Bristol down to 14 men, with prop Gaston Cortes in the sin-bin. But Bristol, despite seeing Jason Hobson have to be helped off the field with a knee injury on his return to action following an eye problem, closed out the victory.

That they denied Rotherham a losing bonus point was of great satisfaction to Bristol, who have now secured try-scoring bonus-point wins in six of their eight Championship games this season.

Bristol again began at a relentless pace – but it was Rotherham who initially led through the prolific Juan Pablo Socino. He knocked over a penalty when Bristol hands strayed into a ruck.

Bristol grabbed the lead, though, when, after Rotherham prop Mark Tampin was yellow-carded and seven scrums took place on the visitors’ five-metre line, the ball was worked wide to Pennycook, who twisted over in the corner.

Rotherham lost another forward, lock Barney Maddison, to the sin-bin following a deliberate knock-on – and Bristol kicked to touch with D’Arcy eventually going over in the corner.

Tipuna scored his side’s third try, from a tap-and-go in the Titans’ 22, before Socino and Roberts exchanged penalties – Bristol’s first penalty since the second game of the season. One more penalty from each side saw Bristol lead 23-9 at the break.

They started theH:5.6936cm second half W:11.3939cm rampantly, too, with Amesbury chasing Roberts’ kick to grab try number four, sealing the bonus point, with Roberts knocking over the conversion for a 30-9 lead.

But Rotherham, to their credit, fought back when they could easily have caved in. Hooker Tom Cruse broke clear to score the Yorkshire side’s first try, before Socino took Charlie Mulchrone’s pass to score a quick second.

When Socino’s penalty saw Bristol doubly punished for Cortes failing to roll away from a tackle, the deficit was seven points and Bristol were on the rack. But replacement Adrian Jarvis scored a penalty in the final minute as Bristol closed out victory.

● Bri

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Player Rating (out of 10)

● Bristol’s Charlie Amesbury gets collared by the Rotherham defence

● Tristan Roberts kicks for goal

7

● George Watkins Was not himself in a quiet first half before having to leave the field with a slight head injury

6

● Bryan Rennie A solid presence in midfield – and offered further hints that he will become a key player in Bristol’s promotion bid

7

● Ben Mosses Defended well when Bristol were put under pressure by Rotherham’s second-half fightback and was heavily involved early on

7

● Tristan Roberts Composed in general play and added 13 points from the tee as he returned to the ultra-competitive No 10 shirt

7

● Ruki Tipuna Another try from a positive tap-and-go – and marshalled his pack well for much of the game

7

● Mark Lilley An all-action display in the loose – carried plenty of ball – as he returned to the Bristol front row

7

● Ross Johnston Still finding his way back to his devastating best – and line-out was not perfect – but worked hard throughout

7

● Garston Cortes Did his chances of further Championship starts no harm as he stepped into the side and produced a combative display

7

● Glen Townson Did the basics well in an abrasive forward battle – but was not as visible as he has been in some recent games

7

● Mark Sorenson (capt) Led the team excellently – particularly in holding it all together when Rotherham rallied after the break

7

● Marco Mama Put his body on the line to make some ferocious tackles as he delivered a solid all-round performance

8

● Redford Pennycook Started superbly, scoring an early try to get Bristol on the front foot, before appearing to tire on return from injury

7

● Mitch Eadie A willing runner and worker, who made a key contribution to Bristol’s blistering start

7

● Charlie Amesbury, second right, is congratulated on his try

Star man ● Charlie Amesbury Finished superbly to score his first try for Bristol on his return to the side and chased and ran hard throughout

Referee Tom Foley

Rotherham

Match facts Home Pens conceded 12 Turnovers 9 Line-outs won 10/14 Successful kicks at goal 6 Missed kicks at goal 2 Attendance

8

4,655

Away 14 6 8/9 6 1

Sean Scanlon – 6 Jamie Broadley – 6 Jack Roberts – 7 Juan Pablo Socino – 7 Michael Keating – 6

Joel Hodgson – 7 Charlie Mulchrone – 7 Marshall Gadd – 6 Tom Cruse – 7 Mark Tampin – 6

Barney Maddison – 6 Dan Sanderson – 6 Ed Williamson – 6 Ali Birch – 7 Alfie To’oala – 6

Replacements Bristol: Andy Short 6 (for Watkins, 41); Ben Glynn (for Sorenson, 60); Nick Koster (for Pennycook, 60); Jason Hobson (for Eadie, 68); Ollie Hayes (for Johnston, 74); Adrian Jarvis (for Roberts, 74); Callum Braley (for Rennie, 80).

Rotherham: Colin Quigley 6 (for To’oala, 10 & for Tampin, 41); Robin Hislop 6 (for Gadd, 40); Jack Preece 6 (for Williamson, 41); Laurence Pearce 7 (for To’oala, 41); Joel Gill 6 (for Broadley, 57); Toby Freeman (for Cruse, 77); Dan White (for Mulchrone, 80).

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● Bristol’s Ruki Tipuna makes a break

Pictures: johnwhitemedia.co.uk

● Adam D’Arcy Opened his try-scoring account for the club with a close-range effort and produced a composed display

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Monday, November 18, 2013

Calor Southern League

Barnes bags two goals in Paulton’s away win Guildford

1

Paulton Rovers

3

PAULTON Rovers claimed a fine win against bottom side Guildford City after a 90-minute domination at The Spectrum.

The visitors struck in the 11th minute when midfielder Brandon Barnes netted straight from a free-kick. Guildford struck back when George Bowerman scored ten minutes later.

Paulton created many opportunities throughout the second half and regained the lead in the 55th minute when Scott Brice scored with a header.

Barnes took his goal tally for the season to eight as he fired in for the second time six minutes from the end of the match.

Paulton are now just one point behind Division One South & West table-toppers North Leigh.

Midfielder Dean Evans, who had returned after a one-game suspension, claimed Paulton’s man-of-the-match prize.

Yate’s great run comes to an end Evesham United

3

Yate Town

0

YATE’S six-game unbeaten run came to an end as they were brought down to earth by Evesham, who look revitalised since the arrival of new manager Paul Collicutt.

The home side were given the boost of an early goal, Carl Brown scoring after five minutes when he won the ball back inside the Yate box and converted.

Town hit back immediately and only a smart double save from home goalkeeper John Bateman from Jake Jackson and Jake Cox denied the visitors an equaliser.

Evesham’s Martin Bottsfield scored the second goal with a penalty after Mitch Tippins had brought down a player in the area.

Elliott Kennedy laid more misery on Yate as he scored a third goal after a strong run up the field.

Yate’s miserable afternoon was completed by the sight of defender Joe Chandler being carried off the field with a serious leg injury.

FA Trophy

Kington’s goal gives Weston a second chance Weston-super-Mare

1

Tiverton Town

1

WESTON needed a 74th-minute equaliser to avoid being dumped out of the FA Trophy by their Southern League visitors, in a bad-tempered game which saw eight cautions and 22 free-kicks.

The home side dominated play in a scoreless first half, but the Devonians had the better of the exchanges after the break.

Early on, Weston’s Kane Ingram twice went close with free-kicks, and on 15 minutes, Tiverton goalkeeper Jon Viscosi pulled off a stunning save to deny another Ingram effort.

Later in the half, Brett Trowbridge, Naby Diallo and Ingram again went close to scoring.

Tiverton looked the more dangerous in the second half, with Shane Krac finishing a speedy run by firing narrowly across goal.

At the other end, Diallo was put clean through, only for Viscosi to come off his line to block with his legs.

The deadlock was broken on 64 minutes when Sam Malsom beat home goalkeeper Luke Purnell with a curling 25-yard effort.

As the visitors tried to increase their lead, Purnell pulled off a vital double save to deny Krac and Max Kowal. Weston equalised on 74 minutes when substitute Ashley Kington scored from close range after being set up by Diallo.

The replay takes place tomorrow night when Weston will be missing Ingram and Callum Laird, who both start three-game bans for being dismissed in the Somerset Premier Cup game at Yeovil Town.

Reeko’s a winner for Clevedon Clevedon Town

1

Godalming

0

CLEVEDON eased their worries at the foot of the table with victory against Godalming.

The home side started well enough, but conceded a penalty on eight minutes after goalkeeper Oli Barton fouled Dan Seabrook. Sam De St Croix struck his spot-kick low to Barton’s left, but the homestopper was equal to the effort and dived low to turn the ball on to the post before pouncing on the rebound.

With some good football on show, Issac Reid, Ross McNab and Reeko Best all went close for the home side, but couldn’t break the deadlock.

Clevedon took the lead three minutes before the break, when Best robbed Jack MacFarlane on the left, weaved his way past a second defender, before firing across goalie Zaki Oualah and into the net.

Both sides created chances in the second half, with the Godalming goalkeeper denying Ibz Diallo after he nearly converted his mazy run up the field.

But Clevedon hung on to register their third victory of the season in Division One South & West.

Gloucestershire County League

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Rod sparks Southmead success THIRD-placed Southmead CS Athletic enjoyed a 5-1 home win against Bishop’s Cleeve Reserves, thanks to a hat-trick from Rod Wilks and strikes from Vinny Coote and Luke Mills.

Dan Keating was on target for Cleeve.

Patchway Town moved up to sixth with a 4-1 victory at bottom-of-the-table Berkeley Town.

Matt Davies struck twice for the visitors in the opening 23 minutes, and Brandon Benjamin capitalised on a poor back pass to add a third goal ten minutes later.

Within a minute, it was 4-0 as Davies set up Phil Vice to score. Rob Stringer pulled a goal back for the hosts just before the break.

Yate Town Reserves went down 2-1 at leaders Longlevens, despite a brilliant performance from goalkeeper Glenn Murley. Lee Blackmore put Longlevens in front just before half-time.

Dan Clement equalised on the hour mark, but Brad Barnard scored a 75th-minute winner for the home side.

Thornbury Town moved out of the bottom two after a 24th-minute goal from Nathan Sage gave them a 1-0 win at home to Frampton United.

Ryan Hicks gave Bristol Telephones a seventh-minute lead at home to Chipping Sodbury, who levelled on 81 minutes through James Mackie.

Ben Sandle scored for Henbury in a 3-1 home defeat to Kings Stanley, while Hanham Athletic battled out a goalless draw with visitors Ellwood.

In the Les James Cup, Rockleaze Rangers progressed to the semi-finals with a 3-2 win at Bristol Academy. Savas Frangoullis, Otis Wilson and Aaron day scored for Rockleaze, who led 3-0 until Vinicius Pinto and marcus Thatcher replied in the last 15 minutes for Academy.

● Weston’s Ben Kirk, right, challenges Tiverton’s Shane Krac for the ball

Somerset County and Hellenic League

Bamford strikes twice to boost Shire’s title hopes SHIREHAMPTON moved to within one point of Premier Division leaders Stockwood Green with a 2-1 away win at Weston St Johns.

Chris Coombes gave the hosts an early lead, but prolific marksman Scott Bamford soon equalised with a header from Tony Beacham’s free-kick.

A draw looked on the cards until Bamford struck again in the 85th minute, scoring with alow drive that went into the net via a post.

Stockwood Green’s great run of form came to an end with a 2-1 home defeat to Bishops Lydeard.

There were goals galore at Yatton Athletic, where the home side battled out a 5-5 draw with Nailsea Town.

Yatton’s goals came from Mike Lee (2), Taro Viner, Ross Titmuss and Sam Morrell, while Nailsea’s goalscorers included Scott Pilgrim (2), Matt Fisher and Jordon Mell.

In the only other Premier Division game played, Berrow had a 5-1 home win against Minehead.

In the Premier/Division One Cup, Cutters Friday progressed to the next round with a 3-2 away win against Brislington Reserves. Nail-

sea Untied were 2-1 winners at Clutton, Fry Club enjoyed a 6-0 home success against Langford Rovers, but Congresbury went down 4-1 at Watchet Town. ● In Division One West of the Hellenic League, Tytherington Rocks had to settle for a 2-2 draw at home to Fairford Town after Cameron McLarty equalised for the visitors with the last kick of the game.

Richie Carter gave Fairford a first-half lead, before Rocks hit back with second-half strikes from Justin Bishop and Toby Colbourne.

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Monday, November 18, 2013

13

FA Trophy

Elder’s header knocks Bath out of the Trophy

● Kane Ingram, left, has an aerial battle with Tiverton’s John Heveran

● Weston’s Tristan Plummer, right, chases the ball

Pictures: Dan Regan

● Weston’s Naby Diallo, right, tries to get past Tiverton’s John Heveran

Dover

1

Bath City

0

BATH’S poor FA Trophy record continued as they exited the competition at the first hurdle with defeat in Kent.

Nathan Elder’s 33rd-minute header from a Tom Murphy cross proved the difference between the two Skrill South sides and ensured Dover entered today’s draw for the first round.

Bath edged the first half-hour and went close to taking the lead when a superb 25-yard strike by Ross Stearn dipped and swerved towards the bottom corner, but was finger-tipped away by goalkeeper Mitch Walker.

But they trailed at the break and Dover had a goal disallowed for offside seven minutes after the restart after Sean Raggett’s header looped into the net.

The same player denied Bath an equaliser with a goalline clearance on the hour, with Walker making a brilliant save to keep out a header seconds later.

An unmarked Liam Bellamy sidefooted over the crossbar from six yards at the other end from another Murphy cross.

Bath piled on the pressure in the closing stages, and Stearn was presented with two chances from free-kicks. The second – a fierce effort – was blocked by the head of Chris Kinnear in the fourth minute of stoppage time, as Dover nervously held on.

● Ross Stearn went close to scoring for Bath at Dover

Toolstation League and FA Vase

Manor Farm show their title credentials with home victory against Sherborne Dan Newman dan.newman@b-nm.co.uk

netted a brace and Lee Delaney was also on target.

Almondsbury UWE had a goal from Brett Agnew in a 1-1 draw at home to Calne Town.

Cribbs FC won 4-2 against Cheddar to continue their chase of high-flyers Bradford Town, while Jamie Johnson scored twice for Roman Glass St George in a 4-2 defeat at home to Wincanton.

Keynsham Town sit just one point off bottom spot after a 3-0 defeat at Chard Town, while fellow strugglers Portishead Town, with former Wimbledon manager Bobby Gould

acting as emergency boss, drew 2-2 at home against Oldland Abbotonians. Danny Benn and Ed Dunn grabbed a goal each for Portishead, but the stand-out performance was from goalkeeper James Hailwood.

Oldland benefited from a Luke Mortimore own goal, before Tom Hutton fired home a great strike for a late equaliser.

A number of Toolstation sides were involved in the FA Vase second round.

Hallen gained a thrilling 4-3 success away to Barnstaple.

Hallen’s Ben Balment scored twice

within the first 20 minutes to set his side on their way, but Barnstaple hit back when Ryan Turner scored a headed goal.

After Hallen’s Dan Dunt was sent off for an alleged headbutt on Ryan Tucker, the decision seemed to galvanise the team as Thomas Corbett netted twice to make it 4-1 Tucker scored two penalties to reduced the deficit, but Hallen managed to see the game out.

Bittonwon through to the next round with a 3-0 win at Fareham Town, thanks to two goals from Luke Bryan and one from Dan Spill.

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BRISTOL Manor Farm kept their foot down in pursuit of Larkhall Athletic at the top of the Premier Division with a 3-1 win against Sherborne Town.

Third-placed Manor Farm, who are now five points behind table-toppers Larkhall, opened the scoring courtesy of a Kye Holly free-kick.

Matt Day equalised in the 65th minute, but goals from Will Hailston and Ashley Bennett secured victory for the home side

Cadbury Heath are in sixth place after goals from Liam Dempsey and Matt Huxley gave them a 2-0 win over Radstock Town.

James Dunn’s header gave Hengrove Athletic a 1-0 win against Winterbourne United, who suffered a third defeat in a row Longwell Green Sports did well to hold fourth-placed Street to a 1-1 draw at Shellards Road, while Jonathan Moss scored for Bishop Sutton in a 3-1 defeat at Bridport.

In the First Division, Ashton & Backwell are up to 12th after a 3-0 win away to Westbury. Ricky Briggs

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Monday, November 18, 2013

● Mangotsfield’s Josh Egan tries his luck from a free-kick against Bishop’s Cleeve

Pictures: Michael Lloyd

● Ryan Bath on the ball for Mangotsfield in the draw with Bishop’s Cleeve

Calor Southern League

Mangotsfield on the rise after seeing off Cleeve Mangotsfield United

4

Bishop’s Cleeve

2

TWO goals from striker Lewis Powell helped secure the three points for Mangotsfield, who moved up to eighth in the Division One South & West table.

It was Bishop’s Cleeve who threatened first when they clipped the crossbar courtesy of an Ed Williams shot.

But Mangotsfield struck first when Powell tapped in from close range to

make it 1-0 after 39 minutes. Defender Matt Sysum delivered the next blow with a header to make the score 2-0, but in the 53rd minute Cleeve pulled one back with a penalty that was tucked away by Williams.

Two quickfire goals for Mangotsfield, one from Powell with a glancing header and the other a low driving volley from Jamie Reid, wrapped up victory for Mangotsfield.

Williams grabbed his second goal late on for the visitors.

Mangotsfield finished the game with ten men after Charlie Hitchings was sent off, but home manager Richard Thompson felt the decision was a little

harsh and was shocked when the referee branded the second yellow card to send Hitchings packing.

Thompson said: “It’s never nice to moan at decisions, but I and probably most of the people watching were shocked at the red. “ It looked a very fair tackle, but that was the choice the referee made, so you move on I guess. It’s just a blow for the player, who is now suspended for the next match.

“Other than that, we gained the three points to keep our winning run going. That’s something we can take away from the game, but the overall performance wasn’t great.”

● Mangotsfield’s Jamie Reid surges forward against Bishop’s Cleeve

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Results FA Carlsberg Trophy, third qualifying rd: AFC Telford 6 Scarborough 0, Arlesey Tn 2 Marlow 0, Barrow 2 Stockport County 2 Basingstoke 3 Hampton & Rich 1, Brackley 0, Leek Tn 0, Boreham Wood 0 Gloucester 1, Boston Utd 4 Redditch 1, Bury Town 5 Grays Athletic 1, Carshalton 1 Whitstable 2, Chelmsford 1 St Albans City 2, Chorley 2 Matlock Town 0, Colwyn Bay 0 Altrincham 1 Curzon Ashton 2 AFC Fylde 1, Daventry 3 Ramsgate 2, Dover 1 Bath City 0, Dulwich 1 Concord Rangers1, East Thurrock 4 Merthyr Town 2, Eastbourne Boro 0 Maidenhead 1, Ebbsfleet United 4 Bromley 1, Gosport Borough 3 Dorchester 0, Guiseley 3 Histon 0, Harrogate Town 1 Bradford PA 1, Hednesford 3 Workington 0, Hungerford 5 Hemel Hempstead 0, Leamington 2 Gainsborough 0, Maidstone 1 Eastleigh 2, Margate 0 Chesham 3, Northwich 2 Nantwich Town 0, Sheffield 2 Gresley 4, Solihull Moors 2 Coalville Town 1, Staines Town 2 Farnborough 2, Stalybridge 3 Vauxhall Motors 0, Stourbridge 2 North Ferriby Utd 2, Sutton Utd 1 Havant and W 2, Tonbridge Angels 1 AFC Sudbury 1, Weston-s-Mare 1 Tiverton 1, Whitehawk 2 Bishop’s Stortford 1.

FA Carlsberg Vase, rd II: AFC Portchester 3 Shepton Mallet 1, Barnstaple Tn 3 Hallen 4, Blackfield & L 1 Oxford City Nom 0, Bodmin Tn 4 Bemerton Heath 2, Brimscombe & Th 0 Binfield 3, Buckland Ath 0 Saltash Utd 3, Fareham Tn 0 Bitton 3, Folland Sports 1 Sholing 2, Kidlington 3 Tavistock 0, Larkhall Ath 2 Newport IoW 0, Odd Down 2 Moneyfields 3, Plymouth Parkway 3 Wantage Tn 0, Reading Tn 1 Brislington 0, Verwood Tn 1 Alresford Tn 4. Calor Southern Premier: AFC Totton 0 Hitchin 5, Bedford Town 3 Burnham 3, Bideford 4 Bashley 2, Biggleswade 3 Chippenham 3, Corby 3 Weymouth 1, Frome Tn 1 Truro City 2, Poole Town 2 St Neots Town 0.

Calor Southern League, Div One (South & West): Bridgwater Tn 0 Didcot Tn 0, Clevedon Tn 1 Godalming Tn 0, Evesham Utd 3 Yate Tn 0, Guildford City 1 Paulton Rov 3, Mangotsfield 4 Bishop’s Cleeve 2, North Leigh 0 Wimborne Tn 1, Stratford Tn 0 Cirencester Tn 2, Swindon S’marine

2 Cinderford 2, Taunton Tn 3 Fleet Tn 0, Thatcham Tn 0 Shortwood Utd 6.

Toolstation Western Premier Div: Bridport 3 Bishop Sutton 1, Bristol M Farm 3 Sherborne Tn 1, Cadbury Heath 2 Radstock Tn 0, Hengrove Ath 1 Winterbourne 0, Ilfracombe Tn 1 Gillingham Tn 3, Longwell Green Sports 1 Street 1, Willand Rov 2 Slimbridge 2,.

First Div: Almondsbury UWE 1 Calne Tn 1, Cheddar 2 Cribbs 4, Keynsham Tn 0 Chard Tn 3, Portishead Tn 2 Oldland Abbots 2, R Glass St George 2 Wincanton 4, Wellington 2 Warminster Tn 1, Wells City 1 Welton Rov 1, Westbury 0 Ashton & Backwell 3.

David Wilson Homes Gloucestershire County: Berkeley Tn 1 Patchway Tn 4, Bristol Teles 1 Chipping Sodbury 1, Hanham Ath 0 Ellwood 0, Henbury 1 Kings Stanley 3, Kingswood 3 Gala Wilton 4, Longlevens 2 Yate Tn 1, Southmead 5 Bishops Cleeve 1, Thornbury Tn 1 Frampton Utd 0.

League Cup: Bristol Acad 2 Rockleaze Rgs 3.

Somerset County Junior Cup, rd III: Broadwalk 0 Brhoden 2, Combe St N 0 Bridgwater Sports 3, North Petherton 0 Crewkerne Tn 7, Welton Arsenal 6 Highbridge Tn 2.

Somerset County Intermediate Cup, rd II: Alcombe Rov 3 Meadow Rgs 1.

Rd III: Baltonsborough 2 Westonzoyland 1, Barrington 1 Clutton 4, Barwick 2 Cheddar 1, Blagdon Hill 9 Purnell Sports 0, Frome Collegians 7 Radstock Tn 1, Glastonbury 1 Ashcott 5, Mells & Vobster 2 Hydez 4 (aet), Milverton Rgs 3 Aller Park Rgs 1, Morganians 3 Forton Rgs 1, Somerton 4 Stoke Rov 4 (aet), (Somerton won 4-3 on pens) Westend 3 Minehead 2 (aet), Winscombe 2 KV 1, Worle Res 1 Martock Utd 2, Worle Rgs 0 South Petherton 3, Somerset County Premier: Berrow 5 Minehead 1, Stockwood Green 1 Bish Lydeard 2, Weston St Johns 1 Shirehampton 2, Yatton Ath 5 Nailsea Tn 5, Division One: Burnham Utd 2 Banwell 1, Saltford 2 Clevedon Utd 2.

Division Two West: Cleeve West Tn 3 Churchill Club 0, Nailsea Tn 1 Combe St Nicholas 1, Uphill

Castle 11 Burnham Utd 1.

Premier Div One Cup: Brislington 2 Cutters Friday 3, Clutton 1 Nailsea Utd 2, Fry Club 6 Langford Rov 0, Ilminster Tn 1 Westfield 2, Middlezoy Rov 4 Frome Coll 2, Shepton Mallet 0 Castle Cary 2, Watchet Tn 4 Congresbury 1.

Div Two Cup: Bishop Sutton 4 Portishead Tn 1, Nailsea Utd 2 North Curry 2, (North Curry won 5-4 on pens) Radstock Tn 3 Chew Magna 4, Staplegrove 5 Kewstoke Lions 5, Timsbury 4 Chilcompton Sp 3 (aet), Welton Rov 1 Wells City 4, Winscombe 2 Peasedown Ath 2, (Peasedown won 4-2 on pens).

Bristol Premier Combination, Premier Div: AEK Boco 5 Shaftesbury Crus 0, Bitton 0 Hallen 2, Mendip Utd 3 Old Sodbury 0, Nicholas Wdrs 3 Cribbs 3, Winterbourne 3 Highridge Utd 1.

Premier One: Brislington Cktrs 4 Greyfriars Ath 1, Eden Grove 1 Bristol M Farm 1, Lawrence Rov 1 Sea Mills Park 4, Made for Ever 1 Olveston Utd 7, Oldland Abbots 3 Patchway Tn 5, RG St George 1 Frampton Ath 2.

Bristol & Suburban Premier One: Ashton Utd 3 Old Georgians 1, Easton Cowboys 6 Avonmouth 5, Lawrence Weston 1 Riding High 3, Little Stoke 7 Fishponds OBs 0, Severn Beach 3 Mangotsfield Sp 5, Stoke Gifford Utd 2 St Aldhelms 3.

Premier Two: AFC Mangotsfield 3 Brislington 0, Almondsbury UWE 3 Cadbury H 0, Lebeq Utd 9 CAB Olympic SC 4, Rockleaze 0 Downend Forests 2, Totterdown PoB 1 Glenside 5, Wessex Wdrs 0 Southmead CS 2.

Div One: Avonmouth 1 Stoke Rgs 7, Cleeve Colts 0 Filton Ath 2, Kellaway Rgs 0 Broad Plain Hse 2, Oldbury 2 Ashton Backwell Colts 1, Parson St OBs 1 Tyndalls Park 6, St Aldhelms 1 Stoke Gifford Utd 2.

Div Two: Ashton Utd 3 Wanderers 2, Keynsham Tn 2 Hanham Ath 1, Lawrence W 2 Mangotsfield 1, O Cothamians 4 Almondsbury 0, Ridings High 5 St Annes Tn 0.

Div Three: AEK Boco Colts 3 Long Ashton 0, AFC Whitchurch 13 Coupland Ins 2, Corinthian Sp 3 Severn Beach 4, Downend Foresters 4 Rockleaze

4, Fishponds OBs 3 O Cothamians 0.

Div Four: Glenside 5 OBs 1 Oldbury 2, Old Georgians 1 Winford PH 4, Rockleaze 4 N Bristol Catalans 2, Stoke Gifford Utd 0 Severnside 4.

Div Five: AFC Mangotsfield 2 Wessex W 1, Avonmouth 3 Imperial 3, Fishponds OBs 1 Whitchurch Sp 7, Lockleaze Comm 2 Kellaway Rgs 0, N Bristol Utd 14 Parson St 0, Real St George 3 Lawrence W 2.

Div Six: Brandon Sp 6 AFC Mangotsfield 2, Cosmos 2 Winford PH 7, Fry’s OB 4 Park Knowle 4, TC Sports 2 Long Ashton 1.

Bristol & District Senior: Bristol Barcelona 2 Iron Acton 0, Crosscourt 1 Portville Warriors 3, Pucklechurch Sp 1 AEK Boco 1, Shirehampton 1 De Veys 2, Wick 0 Warmley Saints 0.

Div One: Lebeq 2 Seymour Utd 1, Rangeworthy 0 Hambrook 4, Soundwell Vic 0 Totterdown Utd 2, St Pancras 1 Winterbourne Utd 1, Stanton Drew 0 Bradley Stoke Tn 2, Talbot Knowle 4 Chip Sodbury 0.

Div Two: Bendix 8 Chipping Sodbury Tn 0, Cribbs 9 Hartcliffe 0, Frampton Ath 3 AEK Boco 0, Frys Club 5 Hanham Ath 0, Greyfriars Ath 7 Nicholas Wdrs 1, Lloydy Coalpit Hth 4 Iron Acton 4, Real Thornbury 2 DRG Frenchay 1.

Div Three: Hambrook 3 Pucklechurch Sp 5, Hillfields OBs 10 RG St George 0, Horfield Utd 1 Patchway N End 2, Olveston Utd 0 S Bristol Central 3.

Div Four: Bradley Stoke Tn 5 Old Sodbury 0, Fishponds Ath 7 Bendix 0, Frys Club 6 Lawrence Rov 2, Highridge Utd 4 Soundwell Vic 0, Talbot Knowle 0 Shaftesbury Crus 8, Westerleigh Sp 4 Sea Mills Park 3, Wick 3 Greyfriars Ath 2.

Div Five: Cesson 8 Stanton Drew 4, Mendip Utd 4 Crosscourt Utd 4, Shireway Sports 7 Rangeworthy 1.

Div Six: Bradley Stoke 2 Hanham Colts 1, Bristol Deaf 0 Yate Ath 3, Cutters Friday 5 Brimsham Green 1, Greyfriars Ath 6 Cribbs 3, Saltford 1 Stapleton 4, Seymour Utd 2 Stoke Lane 7.

Bristol & Avon: AFC Hartcliffe 6 Westerleigh Sp 1, Bradley Stoke Tn 2 LS Utd 4, Broad Plain v Bristol

Sports aban, De-Veys 3 Broad Walk Comm 3, Dodington 7 Wessex Wdrs 3, Iron Acton 3 Bristol Revolution 2, Sea Mills v Whitchurch Ph aban.

Bristol Downs Norman Hardy Cup, rd II: Easton Cowboys 2 Corinthians 2, (Corinthians won 3-2 on pens) Jamaica Bell 3 Clifton St V Res 3, (Clifton won 4-2 on pens) Lawes Jun 1 Sneyd Park Res 2, Lion 1 Saints OBs 3, Portland OBs 4 Ashley Res 0, St Andrews 4 Hare on the Hill 2, Sneyd Park 5 Jersey Rgs 3, Torpedo 1 Old Cliftonians 2.

All Saints Cup, rd II: Bengal Tigers 1 Torpedo B 3, Conham 2 Clifton St Vince B 3, Cotham OBs 2 Durdham Dn AS 7, Easton C’boys Res 3 Retainers A 1, Helios 2 Sneyd Park B 2, (Sneyd Park won 5-4 on pens) Luccombe Garage 2 Evergreen 3, Old Elizabethans 3 Clifton St V A 1, Wellington Wdrs 1 Sneyd Park A 3.

Div One: DAC Beachcroft 1 AFC Bohemia 0, Retainers 0 Ashley 3, Sp Greyhound 0 Clifton St Vince 5.

Div Two: Saints OBs 0 Tebby 0, Torpedo 2 Clifton Rockets 0.

Div Three: Greens Park Rgs 1 Torpedo 0, Retainers 2 Portland OBs 1. Division Four: Jersey Rgs 0 Warmley Utd 2, NSCF Utd 2 Cosmos UK 2, Tebby AFC 0 Clifton Rockets 4, West Tn Utd 1 Lion 4.

Weston-s-Mare & District, Knockout Cup, rd I: Cleeve West 1 Portishead 0 (aet).

Div One: Clevedon Utd 9 Yatton Ath 1, Hutton 1 Tickenham Utd 6, Nailsea Utd 2 Winscombe 2.

Div Two: Clevedon Dons 1 Langford Rov 4, Clevedon Utd 0 Locking Park 6, Congresbury 8 Burnham Utd 2, Draycott 3 St George (EiG) 5.

Div Three: Axbridge Tn 0 Uphill Castle 3, Banwell 5 Wedmore 2.

Div Four: King Alfred 2 Nailsea utd Colts 1, St George (EiG) 4 Hutton 2, Wrington/Redhill 4 Pill Utd 1.

Div Five: Clapton in Gordano 6 Congresbury 2, Dolphin Ath 1 Shipham 1, Portishead Cal This 5 South Park 2, Selkirk Utd 0 Portishead Tn Colts 3.

Div Six: Banwell 3 Worle Rangers 4, Burnham Utd 1 Berrow 4, Clevedon Utd 3 Axbridge Tn 5, Wedmore 3 Westland Utd 1.

FIFA World cup european Q'fying Play-Offs 1st leg Friday

Greece .....................(2) 3 Mitroglou 14, 67

romania ..................(1) 1

Stancu 19

Salpingidis 21 Att 28,200

Iceland .....................(0) 0

croatia .....................(0) 0

Portugal ...................(0) 1

Sweden ....................(0) 0

Att 9,768

Ronaldo 82 Att 64,000

Ukraine ....................(0) 2 Zozulya 61

France .....................(0) 0

Yarmolenko 83 (pen) Att 67,732

P W Arsenal ............ 11 4 Liverpool .......... 11 5 Southamptn ..... 11 4 Chelsea ........... 11 5 Man Utd ...........11 3 Everton ............11 3 Spurs ...............11 3 Man City .......... 11 5 Newcastle ........ 11 2 West Brom ....... 11 2 Aston Villa........ 11 2 Hull ..................11 3 Swansea .......... 11 1 Cardiff .............. 11 2 Norwich............ 11 2 West Ham ........ 11 1 Stoke ...............11 1 Fulham.............11 1 Sunderland ...... 11 2 Crystal Pal ....... 11 1

A 5 3 2 5 5 3 5 2 5 4 9 1 11 5 7 7 3 9 10 10

W 4 2 2 1 3 2 3 1 3 1 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 2 0 0

top Scorers

Daniel Sturridge luis Suarez Sergio Aguero robin van Persie loic remy Aaron ramsey

International Matches

Friday belarus ....................(0) 0 Albania ....................(0) 0 czech republic.......(1) 2 canada ....................(0) 0

brentford .................(1) 5

crewe ......................(0) 0

Denmark ..................(1) 2

carlisle.....................(0) 1

crawley town .........(0) 1

Celustka 3 Horava 81

AWAY D L F 1 1 11 2 1 8 2 1 4 2 2 4 0 2 10 3 1 8 1 1 4 1 4 8 0 3 8 4 1 6 2 1 5 0 5 5 0 3 4 2 3 4 0 4 2 3 2 4 1 4 7 0 4 5 1 4 2 0 5 2

Pedersen 78

england ...................(0) 0

chile ........................(1) 2

estonia.....................(0) 2

Azerbaijan ...............(1) 1

Okuonghae 78 Att 3,334

Kvist Jorgensen 14 Boilesen 90 Att 62,963

Zenjov 54 Lindpere 66

Pts 25 23 22 21 20 20 20 19 17 14 14 14 12 12 11 10 10 10 7 4

(Liverpool) ........................ 8 (Liverpool) ........................ 8 (Man City) ........................ 8 (Man Utd) ......................... 7 (Newcastle) ...................... 7 (Arsenal) .......................... 6

Aliyev 44

Germany ..................(1) 1

Poland......................(0) 0

Slovakia ...................(2) 2

rep of Ireland .........(1) 3

latvia .......................(0) 0

russia ......................(1) 1

Samedov 30 Att 6,000

Hummels 8 Kucka 31 Mak 39

Att 42,000

Serbia ......................(1) 1

Djordjevic 31

Scotland ..................(0) 0

USA ..........................(0) 0

South korea ............(0) 2

Switzerland .............(1) 1

turkey ......................(1) 1

Northern Ireland .....(0) 0

Att 30,000 Hong 56 C Lee 85

Erdinc 45

Kasami 7

Att 14,000

Saturday Argentina .................(0) 0 ecuador ...................(0) 0 equatorial Guinea...(1) 1 Spain .......................(2) 2

Bermudez 36 Att 30,000

Cazorla 14 Juanfran 42

Jamaica ...................(0) 0

trinidad and tobago(1) 1

Japan .......................(1) 2

holland ....................(2) 2

Wales .......................(0) 1

Finland ....................(0) 1

Osako 44 Honda 60 Att 18,000 King 58 Att 11,809

Guerra 5

Van der Vaart 12 Robben 39 Riski 90

Yesterday brazil ........................(1) 5 honduras ................(0) 0 Bernard 21 Dante 55 Maicon 65 Willian 70 Hulk 73

Portsmouth .............(0) 0

bristol rovers .........(1) 1

bury .........................(1) 1

Dag & red ...............(1) 2

burton Albion .........(0) 0

exeter.......................(0) 0

Southend .................(2) 2

Ebanks-Landell 76

Mansfield .................(1) 1

Oxford Utd ..............(2) 3

McAlinden 59 Att 6,547

Morecambe..............(0) 1

rochdale .................(0) 2

Northampton ...........(0) 1

Fleetwood town .....(0) 0

Scunthorpe..............(0) 0

Accrington Stanley (2) 2

torquay....................(0) 0

chesterfield ............(2) 2

Wycombe.................(0) 1

cheltenham .............(0) 2

York ..........................(0) 1

Plymouth .................(0) 1

Clarke 88

colchester ...............(0) 1

Swindon ..................(1) 2

leyton Orient ..........(0) 0

Preston ....................(1) 1

Notts county ...........(0) 0

Wolves .....................(0) 1

Oldham ........................ P Port Vale ..................(2) 3

Mk Dons...................... P Shrewsbury .............(0) 1

Ajose 28 N’Guessan 47

Att 7,123

Garner 33

Att 7,520

Robertson 23 Myrie-Williams 30 Hugill 90

Sheff Utd .................(1) 1

Gillingham ...............(1) 2

Stevenage................(0) 0

rotherham ..............(1) 3

tranmere .................(1) 1

bristol city ..............(1) 1

Porter 19 Att 16,560

Kedwell 7 McDonald 47

Att 2,814

Pringle 14 Davis 61 O’Connor 66

Ridehalgh 41 Att 4,932

Baldock 14

Yesterday bradford ..................(2) 3 coventry ..................(3) 3

Wells 17, 28, 90 (pen)

Webster 2 L Clarke 7 Wilson 42

Att 14,322

A 7 12 11 8 21 18 10 15 14 9 12 15 22 11 18 20 15 15 13 12 20 24 13 35

Pt 42 36 35 33 31 31 30 30 30 29 29 29 27 26 25 22 21 21 20 20 19 18 13 3

Frampton 34, 74 S Moore 82 Smith 90 O’Toole 4 (pen) Att 5,534

Att 1,626

Att 3,547

Woodrow 12 Hurst 29

Stevenson 45

Rigg 13 Constable 45 Williams 66

Amond 89 Att 2,563

Hughes 64 (og) Hogan 66

Norris 90

Att 4,076

Att 3,255

Bowerman 26 Odejayi 36

Att 2,361

Banks 15 O’Shea 19

McClure 66 Att 3,207

Cureton 56 Knott 67 (og)

Bowman 54 Att 3,803

Obadeyi 65

hOMe AWAY P W D L F A W D L F A Pts Oxford Utd .......16 2 3 3 7 8 6 2 0 19 6 29 Chesterfield .....16 4 2 2 10 7 4 3 1 13 7 29 Rochdale .........16 6 1 1 17 8 3 1 4 8 12 29 Fleetwood T .....16 4 1 3 17 11 5 0 3 9 6 28 Southend .........16 4 1 3 10 6 4 1 3 10 8 26 Newport C .......16 6 1 1 18 7 1 4 3 6 12 26 Dag & Red .......16 5 2 1 14 6 2 3 3 10 14 26 Morecambe......16 3 3 2 14 12 4 1 3 9 10 25 Wimbledon.......16 5 1 2 14 8 2 2 4 7 11 24 Exeter ..............16 4 0 4 9 11 3 3 2 11 8 24 Burton Albion ...16 2 2 4 8 10 5 1 2 12 10 24 Scunthorpe ......16 4 2 2 8 8 2 4 2 9 11 24 Wycombe.........15 3 1 4 10 11 3 2 2 11 8 21 Hartlepool ........16 4 0 4 10 10 2 3 3 9 9 21 Mansfield .........16 2 3 3 11 11 3 3 2 5 7 21 Portsmouth ......15 4 0 3 11 9 1 5 2 12 17 20 Cheltenham .....16 2 4 2 14 13 3 1 4 9 15 20 Plymouth..........16 3 3 2 4 6 2 1 5 7 10 19 York .................16 3 2 3 11 10 1 3 4 11 15 17 Bristol Rvrs ......16 2 4 2 8 9 1 2 5 5 10 15 Bury .................16 2 3 3 9 9 1 2 5 8 12 14 Accrington S ....16 1 3 4 7 10 2 2 4 7 12 14 Torquay ............16 1 4 3 7 12 2 1 5 10 15 14 Northamptn ......16 2 4 2 10 9 1 0 7 4 13 13

AFc totton ..........................0 bedford town......................3 bideford ...............................4 biggleswade town .............3 corby ...................................3 Frome town ........................1 Poole town..........................2

clevedon town ...................1 Godalming town .............. 0 evesham ..............................3 Yate .................................... 0 Guildford city .....................1 Paulton .............................. 3 Mangotsfield .......................4 bishops cleeve ................ 2 North leigh .........................0 Wimborne town ............... 1 Stratford town ....................0 cirencester ....................... 2 Swindon Supermarine .......2 cinderford ......................... 2 taunton................................3 Fleet town......................... 0 thatcham town ..................0 Shortwood Utd ................. 6 bridgwater town.................0 Didcot town ...................... 0 hOMe AWAY

P Chesham ............. 16 Hemel Hemp ....... 14 Bideford ............... 14 Cambridge City.... 15 Poole Town .......... 12 Stourbridge .......... 13 Banbury ............... 13 St Albans ............. 13 Biggleswade T ..... 13 Hungerford T ....... 12 Truro City ............. 16 Redditch .............. 16 Burnham .............. 15 Frome Town ......... 14 Weymouth ........... 12 Corby ................... 12 Hitchin.................. 14 Arlesey................. 14 Chippenham ........ 16 Bedford Town....... 15 St Neots Town ..... 16 AFC Totton........... 15 Bashley ................ 14

W 6 7 6 4 3 4 4 4 2 3 1 2 1 0 3 4 3 1 3 2 2 1 0

hOMe D 1 0 2 1 3 0 0 1 3 0 3 1 1 2 1 0 3 3 0 2 0 1 1

l 0 0 0 1 0 2 3 2 1 3 5 4 4 5 2 1 2 3 5 4 6 7 7

hitchin ............................... 5 burnham ........................... 3 bashley ............................. 2 chippenham ..................... 3 Weymouth ......................... 1 truro city .......................... 2 St Neots town .................. 0

F 20 34 23 11 11 13 11 11 10 7 10 10 8 6 9 9 14 10 9 13 12 11 8

A W 6 6 2 4 8 3 6 5 7 4 8 4 9 4 8 2 7 3 7 4 20 4 19 4 14 3 17 5 8 2 6 1 9 1 13 3 20 2 20 1 20 1 29 1 20 0

D 1 1 3 2 1 0 0 2 3 0 1 0 5 1 1 2 1 1 1 2 0 0 1

AWAY l 2 2 0 2 1 3 2 2 1 2 2 5 1 1 3 4 4 3 5 4 7 5 5

F 20 16 13 11 13 22 14 16 15 12 14 12 15 14 8 7 8 11 12 12 6 7 5

A 8 9 8 6 10 8 12 11 11 5 14 21 11 6 9 15 8 10 18 24 16 16 24

Pt 38 34 32 30 25 24 24 21 21 21 19 19 18 18 17 17 16 16 16 13 9 7 2

calor lge South & West

P North Leigh .......... 14 Cirencester .......... 13 Paulton ................ 15 Wimborne Town ... 16 Swindon Super .... 15 Merthyr Town ....... 12 Tiverton ................ 13 Mangotsfield ........ 13 Bridgwater T ........ 12 Taunton ................ 16 Stratford Town ..... 14 Yate ..................... 14 Evesham.............. 15 Cinderford ............ 14 Godalming T ........ 14 Thatcham Town ... 14 Shortwood Utd..... 10 Didcot Town ......... 14 Bishops Cleeve ... 14 Clevedon Town .... 11 Fleet Town ........... 15 Guildford City....... 14

3 1 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 1 3 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 1 1 1 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 1 1

W 7 5 5 4 5 5 4 3 2 4 3 3 3 2 2 1 1 3 2 2 1 2

D 0 0 1 2 1 1 0 1 4 3 1 1 3 1 1 2 2 1 0 1 2 1

l 1 1 2 1 2 0 2 2 1 2 3 3 2 4 4 4 1 3 4 2 4 5

F 25 16 25 26 18 15 12 13 10 18 13 12 17 9 7 3 11 13 11 5 7 12

A W 5 4 11 6 13 5 10 3 10 2 6 3 9 3 10 4 7 4 10 2 13 3 13 3 15 1 11 1 12 2 16 2 11 2 13 0 16 2 6 1 20 0 24 0

D 0 0 1 2 3 0 3 1 0 1 2 2 2 4 0 2 1 2 0 1 2 0

l 2 1 1 4 2 3 1 2 1 4 2 2 4 2 5 3 3 5 6 4 6 6

F 10 17 22 10 11 13 15 12 12 12 24 15 7 11 7 10 14 5 15 9 5 5

A 6 6 10 11 11 15 13 8 5 15 17 12 16 13 16 11 7 19 25 14 20 28

Pt 33 33 32 25 25 25 24 23 22 22 21 21 17 14 13 13 12 12 12 11 7 7

treble check:

Complete check for Littlewoods, Vernons and Zetters: 3 = Score Draws, 2= No Score Draw or Void 1= Home or Away

EPB-E01-S3

hAlF tIMe

Hylton 36

Hines 8 (pen) Howell 54

1 1 2 1 1 2 1 3 1 1 1 3 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 2 2 1 3 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 2 1 1 3 1 1 1 3 3 2 1 2 3 2 1 1

FUlltIMe

Att 4,605

hOMe AWAY P W D L F A W D L F A Pts Wolves .............16 6 1 1 16 5 6 2 0 14 5 39 L Orient ............16 6 1 1 17 6 6 1 1 19 7 38 Peterboro ........15 5 1 2 9 7 5 1 1 16 5 32 Brentford ..........16 5 1 2 13 5 4 2 2 12 12 30 Preston ............16 3 4 1 12 9 5 2 1 12 7 30 Swindon ...........16 6 1 1 20 9 2 1 5 11 12 26 Bradford ...........16 4 2 2 18 9 2 4 2 9 8 24 Rotherham .......16 2 4 2 11 13 4 2 2 13 9 24 Port Vale ..........16 4 2 2 13 11 3 0 5 11 14 23 MK Dons..........15 5 2 1 15 8 1 2 4 9 12 22 Walsall .............15 2 2 3 7 10 4 2 2 10 5 22 Coventry ..........16 6 1 1 22 14 3 3 2 15 11 21 Crawley Town ..16 4 1 3 10 11 1 4 3 9 12 20 Gillingham........16 3 2 3 9 9 2 1 5 11 16 18 Colchester .......16 2 3 3 7 10 1 5 2 9 12 17 Carlisle.............16 2 2 4 9 18 2 3 3 7 10 17 Shrewsbury......16 3 4 1 10 5 0 3 5 6 14 16 Oldham ............15 3 2 2 8 6 1 1 6 11 17 15 Bristol City .......16 1 4 3 9 12 1 4 3 15 16 14 Stevenage .......16 2 1 5 9 14 2 1 5 6 12 14 Tranmere .........16 1 3 4 10 20 2 2 4 6 10 14 Crewe ..............16 2 3 3 8 15 1 1 6 4 21 13 Sheff Utd..........16 3 2 3 10 9 0 1 7 4 16 12 Notts Co ..........16 3 0 5 11 10 0 1 7 6 20 10 *Coventry deducted 10 points for entering administration

calor lge Premier

Alfreton town......................3 braintree town ................. 1 barnet ..................................2 cambridge Utd ................. 2 chester Fc ..........................1 luton ................................. 1 Fc halifax ............................4 Aldershot .......................... 0 Forest Green .......................4 lincoln city ...................... 1 Gateshead ...........................3 Salisbury ........................... 2 kidderminster .....................3 Wrexham ........................... 1 Macclesfield ........................3 Dartford ............................. 1 Southport ............................0 hereford ............................ 3 tamworth.............................0 Grimsby............................. 2 Welling .................................1 Nuneaton........................... 2 Woking.................................3 hyde .................................. 2 hOMe AWAY P W D l F A W D l F Cambridge ........... 19 9 0 0 22 2 3 6 1 9 Kiddermnstr ......... 19 7 1 1 21 8 4 2 4 11 Luton.................... 19 5 3 0 17 7 4 5 2 16 Grimsby ............... 18 5 1 2 17 9 5 2 3 10 FC Halifax............ 19 9 2 0 28 7 0 2 6 8 Alfreton Town ....... 19 8 1 1 24 11 2 0 7 8 Barnet .................. 19 4 5 1 16 10 3 4 2 12 Salisbury .............. 18 7 1 1 17 6 2 2 5 9 Nuneaton ............. 19 4 3 2 15 13 4 3 3 12 Braintree Town..... 19 4 1 4 13 11 4 4 2 13 Gateshead ........... 19 5 2 3 17 14 4 0 5 13 Welling ................. 19 5 3 2 15 9 3 2 4 13 Forest Green ....... 19 7 1 2 23 8 1 2 6 12 Macclesfld............ 19 5 3 3 17 14 2 2 4 9 Lincoln City .......... 19 5 1 2 9 3 2 3 6 10 Wrexham ............. 19 5 2 2 15 11 1 2 7 12 Hereford............... 19 3 4 2 9 9 2 2 6 12 Southport ............. 19 5 2 3 11 11 1 1 7 6 Woking................. 19 3 4 4 14 16 2 1 5 9 Tamworth ............. 19 3 3 5 11 15 2 2 4 6 Chester FC .......... 20 1 6 3 5 9 3 1 6 12 Dartford................ 19 4 1 3 12 10 1 2 8 7 Aldershot ............. 19 4 2 3 16 14 2 3 5 5 Hyde .................... 20 0 2 8 6 18 0 1 9 11 *Aldershot deducted 10 points for entering administration

AFc Wimbledon ......(1) 4

Att 6,616

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49

hOMe AWAY P W D L F A W D L F A Pts Burnley ............15 5 3 0 15 4 5 1 1 12 6 34 Leicester ..........15 6 1 1 13 8 4 1 2 11 7 32 QPR .................15 6 1 0 10 2 3 4 1 7 6 32 Blackpool .........15 4 3 1 10 7 3 3 1 9 7 27 Nottm For ........15 4 2 1 11 6 3 3 2 12 10 26 Reading ...........15 4 4 0 14 7 2 2 3 9 11 24 Watford ............15 3 2 2 13 10 3 3 2 14 10 23 Leeds ...............15 4 1 2 12 6 3 1 4 10 12 23 Derby ...............15 2 3 3 13 14 4 1 2 16 9 22 Wigan ..............14 4 3 0 12 7 2 1 4 5 5 22 Brighton ...........15 3 3 2 13 9 2 3 2 5 5 21 Ipswich.............15 4 1 2 12 6 1 4 3 11 14 20 Blackburn.........15 4 1 2 11 5 1 3 4 9 14 19 Bournemth .......15 4 0 3 11 10 1 3 4 10 20 18 Huddersfld ......15 3 3 2 14 11 1 2 4 5 8 17 Middlesbro’ ......15 2 5 1 17 11 1 2 4 8 13 16 Bolton ..............15 1 5 2 9 9 2 2 3 7 12 16 Birmingham .....15 2 1 4 10 7 2 1 5 7 15 14 Charlton ...........14 1 3 3 5 8 2 2 3 7 10 14 Millwall .............15 2 2 3 10 12 1 3 4 8 19 14 Doncaster ........14 2 1 4 7 11 1 3 3 5 12 13 Sheff Wed ........14 1 3 2 10 9 0 5 3 7 14 11 Barnsley...........15 2 4 2 10 16 0 1 6 6 15 11 Yeovil ...............15 1 1 6 4 10 1 2 4 5 12 9

Alexis 7, 90

Italy ..........................(1) 1

Keane 22 McGeady 67 Long 79

A 5 7 3 5 8 7 1 10 11 8 3 13 4 10 14 4 11 10 12 11

Norway ....................(0) 1

Trotta 43 Forshaw 46 Saville 58 Donaldson 63, 73 Noble 47 (pen) Att 3,675

Abate 28 Att 49,000

hOMe D L F 0 1 11 0 1 13 2 0 11 1 0 14 2 1 8 2 0 6 1 2 5 0 0 20 2 1 7 1 2 6 0 4 6 2 0 4 3 2 11 1 2 5 2 2 7 1 3 5 3 1 3 1 3 5 0 4 6 1 4 4

15

www.bristolpost.co.uk

Monday, November 18, 2013

16

www.bristolpost.co.uk

Monday, November 18, 2013

International football

International football

Sturridge aims to bounce back from injury woe Post reporter epsport@b-nm.co.uk DANIEL Sturridge is desperate to make it to the World Cup after missing out on a trip to Rio last summer because of an injury that also wrecked his summer holidays.

Sturridge revealed he sat out England’s 2-0 defeat to Chile because of a thigh injury, rather than the foot problem which has been widely reported, but he is expected to return to the side to face Germany tomorrow night.

The game represents another chance for Sturridge to show that he is the answer to England’s problems in the striker department.

England have chopped and change for the last few years as they have sought to find Wayne Rooney a partner, but towards the end of last season following his move to Liverpool, there appeared little doubt that Sturridge was the answer.

After scoring 11 goals in 16 games, Sturridge was handed his first England start against the Republic of Ireland in May. But he lasted just 33 minutes before being substituted with an ankle injury that ruled him out of England’s historic friendly against Brazil to open the new Maracana.

“That was a devastating time for me,” Sturridge said. “I had to go on holiday to Jamaica with my crutches and (a protective) boot.

“It wasn’t nice because it was really hot. I was there, just hobbling around. I haven’t been to Brazil. I have heard it’s good. Hopefully I will be on the plane next summer.”

Not only did the injury deny Sturridge his part in the reopening of arguably the most iconic stadium in football, but it also scuppered his plans to go in to his first full season at maximum fitness.

The striker missed Liverpool’s pre-season tour and he was short of match practice ahead of the current campaign.

That has not stopped him from scoring freely this season, however.

The 24-year-old has bagged ten goals in 13 matches for Brendan Rodgers’ side and he was also on

Germany hit by injuries for the England match GERMANY coach Joachim Low has seen three more players withdraw from his squad for the international friendly with England tomorrow night.

Midfielder Sami Khedira ruptured knee ligaments during the friendly draw with Italy on Friday and will miss out of the match at Wembley.

He has been joined on the sidelines by captain Philipp Lahm and Bayern Munich team-mate Manuel Neuer, who have both returned to Germany rather than travelling on from Milan to London, while Mesut Ozil will head to the English capital, albeit not to feature tomorrow night.

The Arsenal midfielder did not train much prior to Friday night’s 1-1 draw with Italy and Low has decided to allow him, as well as the Bayern duo, a rest.

“The England game is our last chance before the World Cup to try out one or two new tactical variations and personnel,” said the Germany coach.

target against Montenegro – a match that put England on the brink of World Cup qualification.

Part of the reason behind Sturridge’s success on Merseyside is his partnership with Luis Suarez.

Sturridge feels he and Suarez have an “almost telepathic” understanding of each other and the hope within in the England camp is that he and Rooney can build up the same kind of partnership.

10 ● The number of goals scored by Daniel Sturridge for Liverpool this season “My relationship with Luis is similar (to the one) with Wazza as well,” the former Chelsea man added.

“We get along on the football field and off it. It’s easy to play with players like that, it makes your job easy and you can move around and bounce off each other.

“It’s very easy to play with both of them. I wouldn’t say that they are hugely different.”

Sturridge was a frustrated spectator on Friday as England were given a big reality check thanks to Alexis Sanchez’s double at Wembley.

Although his thigh problem does not appear to have fully healed, Sturridge is confident he will be able to perform to his best against the Germans.

“It is not a serious injury so I am hopeful it doesn’t continue to linger on,” Sturridge said.

“I have been playing with it for the last couple of games and it has been hindering my performance.

“I had a scan and the scan showed it was similar to what it was before but it is not a problem for me. I am raring to go for the game. I am delighted that the pain is not as bad and I am looking forward to it.”

Germany come to London without a number of key players as manager

They have a lot of

“talented players, and are

still a big name. We always had great respect when we played England.

This is not a real friendly game. England are playing Germany and it’s always a big rivalry.

Michael Ballack

● England’s Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge Joachim Low looks to experiment with his side in the same way that Hodgson did on Friday.

But unlike Hodgson, Low has a number of Champions League winners as back up. Sturridge is looking forward to being tested against one of

the best teams in the world.

“It is a great prospect,” he said. “We are playing against a country that plays great football and has got world class players. It will be a great occasion.”

International football

EPB-E01-S3

Beckenbauer put the boot into Hodgson’s goal of managing Germany ENGLAND manager Roy Hodgson has revealed that Franz Beckenbauer’s input may have been the key factor in him missing out on becoming Germany’s first foreign coach.

Hodgson said Beckenbauer, a World Cup winner with West Germany both as a player and coach, felt the Englishman would have stood in the way of upcoming German coaches.

Hodgson’s stock was high in in-

ternational football at the time, having led Switzerland to the 1994 World Cup finals and to qualification for Euro 96.

Instead, Erich Ribbeck was appointed to replace Berti Vogts, who resigned following Germany’s quarter-final elimination to Croatia at the 1998 World Cup. Hodgson said that the German Football Association (DFB) president at the time, Egidius Braun, had been keen on appointing him.

“It was an honour when Braun called me,” Hodgson told Germany’s Bild am Sonntag newspaper.

“I was on the president’s wishlist.

He would have had problems convincing people to accept a foreign coach, though.

“At the time, my friend Franz Beckenbauer pointed out that a foreign coach of the Germany national team would not have helped the German coaching programme – the up-and-coming coaches.”

After being brought out of retirement for an ill-fated two-year spell as Germany coach, Ribbeck admitted he was aware of the DFB’s interest in Hodgson, and several other coaches for a position nobody seemed keen on taking.

Paul Breitner had been the preferred choice.

“If all of the names linked with the position after Berti Vogts and before me are true, then I was most likely only seventh choice,” said Ribbeck.

“Philipp Lahm, Manuel Neuer and Mesut Ozil are part of the absolute backbone of our team and for me, it is more important now to give other players a chance to prove themselves in these key positions, particularly against such a strong team as England.”

Neuer’s absence paves the way for Borussia Dortmund custodian Roman Weidenfeller to pick up his first cap at the venue of his greatest recent disappointments.

He was on the losing side in last May’s Champions League final at Wembley and will return on Tuesday night to represent his country for the first time.

Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker also joins the squad after missing the Milan date due to illness.

Meanwhile, Michael Ballack insists England are not on the “same level” as Germany ahead of tomorrow’s friendly at Wembley.

Germany are second in the world rankings and their former midfielder Ballack, who won 98 caps between 1999 and 2010, believes their superiority is evident.

“I don’t see England as being the same level as teams like Germany or Spain. They’re a bit behind,” Ballack said.

“They have a lot of talented players, and are still a big name. We always had great respect when we played England. This is not a real friendly game. England are playing Germany and it’s always a big rivalry.

“At the next World Cup England must use their name, use their quality and have confidence. Then everything is possible.”

Monday, November 18, 2013

www.bristolpost.co.uk

International rugby

International rugby

England captain looks to the Six Nations as another benchmark

● England’s Billy Twelvetrees is stopped by the rugged All Black defence during the 22-30 defeat at Twickenham on Saturday

England

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New Zealand

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● England’s Chris Robshaw shows the scars of battle two years and the only way for us to improve is to win it. That’s the aim.

“We had a pretty good campaign last season, but unfortunately fell short at the final hurdle. The good teams don’t fall short, they take their opportunities.

“The All Blacks didn’t lose a game in the Rugby Championship. They are the benchmark, but we want to be better.”

Missing six British and Irish Lions and counting 528 fewer caps in their starting XV, England entered the match as 10/1 underdogs yet produced comfortably their best performance of the autumn.

After enduring a nightmare start that saw Savea cross after just 145 seconds followed by Kieran Read in the 17th minute, they staged a fightback founded on the toil of their pack.

Second row Joe Launchbury’s try was hardly a thing of beauty as he

broke from a scrum to pick up a loose ball that had been kicked on by Robshaw and Tom Wood, but it initiated a period of English dominance that lasted two quarters.

Courtney Lawes, Dylan Hartley and Billy Vunipola were outstanding as they carried the fight to the retreating All Blacks and with the flawless Owen Farrell kicking a conversion and five penalties, their fightback had meaning on the scoreboard.

But when Hartley departed with a bruised lung their previously accurate line-out malfunctioned, offering ruthless New Zealand a route back into the match that Savea exploited.

“We took the lead and not many teams get into that position against New Zealand with around 20 minutes to go,” Robshaw said.

“It shows how clinical they are and why they’re the best side in the world.

Lancaster rues the schedule for NZ series STUART Lancaster admits he is powerless to prevent England from playing the first Test of their summer tour to New Zealand with a weakened team.

The opening international against the All Blacks is scheduled for June 7, one week after the Aviva Premiership final at Twickenham.

The proximity of the dates means Lancaster is resigned to being unable to field his first-choice side until the second Test on June 14.

While England’s head coach still regards the series as a worthwhile exercise, he accepts the scheduling issue will hamstring preparations for the opening international.

“I don’t think it renders the series meaningless, but it’s certainly not ideal. I wouldn’t have chosen this way,” he said.

“There’s nothing to be done at this point. It was an inherited situation I found myself in. We looked at the calendar but nothing could be moved and my understanding is that it was all set in stone years ago.

“We’ll go into the first Test with 100 per cent commitment to win it.

“We’ll have our Premiership finalists arrive after that and then we’ll make decisions for the second Test.”

Lancaster believes facing the World Cup holders without a full-strength team offers some benefits, although is still hoping for a final that does not feature Northampton, Saracens, Leicester or Harlequins.

“In my positive mindset it gives opportunities to lads who might not have had the chance to start against the All Blacks,” he said.

“For example if it’s a Saracens v Leicester final, Freddie Burns will get a chance to start which is not a bad thing for us. For creating depth it’s actually a good thing.

“Around 38 players will go out to New Zealand and have a great rugby experience. My best-case scenario is Newcastle v Sale!“ The most grave area of concern for Lancaster to address before departing for the toughest assignment in the sport is a midfield that flopped once again in Saturday’s 30-22 defeat.

Outside centre Joel Tomkins may have played his last Test for some time after struggling throughout the autumn, although he was not helped against the All Blacks by Owen Farrell’s distribution.

Farrell lacks the craft to ignite England’s backline, but Billy Twelvetrees grew into the distributor role at 12, justifying the management’s faith in his ability.

Two British and Irish Lions centres in Manu Tuilagi and Brad Barritt are missing to injury, but only Barritt is expected to return for the RBS 6 Nations.

Wing also remains a problem position with Chris Ashton surely having exhausted Lancaster’s goodwill, while Marland Yarde and Christian Wade are still novices.

“We need to develop more depth in these areas,” Lancaster said.

“You can’t overestimate the impact of losing the quality of the players we have lost, even the two young wingers who we were potentially going to blood this series.

“If you took four players out of the All Blacks team and had new combinations working together it would be challenging for them too.”

EPB-E01-S3

CHRIS Robshaw has reacted to a spirited defeat to New Zealand by declaring England must win an RBS Six Nations title to provide evidence of genuine progress.

The All Blacks avenged last autumn’s Twickenham humiliation with a 30-22 victory in a captivating climax to the QBE Internationals, but they were made to look far from invulnerable.

A side that uses the mantra “We are the most dominant team in the history of the world” for motivation required a moment of genius from Ma‘a Nonu, finished by Julian Savea, to preserve their perfect record this year.

The try came after England displayed courage and character to replace a 17-3 deficit with a 22-20 lead, only for Nonu and Savea to intervene in the final quarter.

It was just their second defeat in 11 matches, but Robshaw insists any loss – even to the world champions in a breathless Test – is unacceptable.

“We’re pretty close to where we want to be, but we’re not quite there,” the captain said.

“If we’d beaten New Zealand we’d have been pretty happy, but we’re at that level where you can perform well and get close, but it’s about winning.

“We are improving game by game, week by week and tournament by tournament and we must make sure we continue that. We’ve now finished second in the Six Nations for the last

“If they get a sniff they create an opportunity and take it. Once New Zealand get in behind you they get excited and sense blood.

“But our belief was outstanding.

The endeavour was there to fight back from the position we were in.

The crowd were fantastic in getting us going.

“Every England player gave it their all. We were out on our feet at times, but we stood up and fought for 80 minutes.”

It was a monumental effort from England’s pack and no one carried the impact more visibly than Robshaw, whose left eye was disfigured by a gigantic bruise that sat like a tennis ball on the socket.

“I picked it up quite early. I clashed heads, it was nothing malicious. I just went in for a tackle and clashed heads, it’s as simple as that,” the Harlequins openside said.

“It’s swollen up a bit, but I could see without any problems during the game. It’s all right now. A couple of days and it will settle down.”

Saturday’s heroic defeat was the first of five encounters between the world’s first and third best teams over the coming 12 months.

England tour New Zealand in June, playing three Tests and one midweek game, and the teams will lock horns once again next autumn.

“We have a challenging series down there in the summer, but these are the guys you want to test yourselves against,” Robshaw said.

“You want to be playing the best sides regularly. That’s the only way to improve and it’s when you find out what you’re made of and what you’re about.”

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www.bristolpost.co.uk

Monday, November 18, 2013

Rugby

Clifton’s second-half try blitz seals the win over Bournemouth

● Clifton centre Dave Massey charges to the try line in the National Two South victory over Bournemouth at Cribbs Causeway

Clifton

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Bournemouth

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Pictures: johnwhitemedia.co.uk

John White

EPB-E01-S3

epsport@b-nm.co.uk CLIFTON roared to victory over Bournemouth to maintain their unbeaten home record this season, following a superb second-half performance that yielded seven high-quality tries at Cribbs Causeway.

Clifton’s dangerous back division claimed six of their tries, with centre Dave Massey and his replacement Jordan Kelly both claiming try doubles, while fellow midfielder James Golledge crossed the whitewash to open the scoring.

Full-back Will Pomphrey added a sixth-try, and hard-working lock Joe Quinn, who was outstanding during his all-action display, galloped in for Clifton’s final touchdown to complete the route.

Fly-half Charlie Foley chipped in with 16 points, thanks to five conversions and two penalties, while replacement stand-off Brad Barnes added one conversion for the Henbury-based side.

It was hard to imagine that Clifton would win by such a convincing margin during a fractured and tame first half.

The visitors started brightly, and caught Clifton cold with barely two minutes on the clock, with a well-worked unconverted try by full-back Dan Pollard.

Foley pulled three-points back with a penalty, but the home side, despite

Rugby

Sorry Dings go down to their heaviest defeat Ampthill

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Dings

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DINGS were put to the sword by Hertfordshire-based Ampthill & District in a one-sided contest at Dillingham Park.

This was a total mismatch from start to finish, with Crusaders a pale shadow of the side that had performed so well in recent weeks.

Dings, who pushed leaders Hartpury College all the way seven days earlier before going down 25-23, were on the wrong end of a 12 tries-to-one hammering against the side occupying second place in SSE National League Two South.

A combination of slick play by the home side, and woeful defending by the Bristol-based side, proved to be decisive.

Simple missed tackles gifted Ampthill two tries in the first five minutes for wing Dean Adamson, who went on to wrap up his hat-trick after 25 minutes.

Experienced Ampthill scrum-half Kevin Barrett orchestrated proceedings for the home side, who seized every opportunity. Dings cause was not helped by with the loss of hooker Dave Wheeler after six minutes.

Crusaders opened their account with a Mark Woodrow penalty, but two further tries by Elliott Clements-Hill, brought up the bonus point after 20 minutes.

Dings’ solitary try came from flanker Stean Williams, converted by Woodrow. But Ampthill flanker Matt Burke went over for a try to make it 42-10 at the interval.

There was more to come in the second half, with every Dings mistake being punished.

Six tries and three conversions added 36 points in the second-half, inflicting Dings’ heaviest league defeat.

Results

● Clifton’s full-back Will Pomphrey dives in for his try against Bournemouth repeatedly banging away at the Bournemouth door, were kept at bay by a combination of committed defence and a lack of accuracy at crucial moments.

Pollard and Foley swapped penalties to make it 8-6 to the visitors at the break, and the visitors could have been forgiven for believing they could pick up where they left off in the first half and cause an upset.

But the Bristol side had other ideas, and went about dismantling their Dorset counterparts with ruthless efficiency.

Clifton’s back row trio of skipper Ben Purcell, James Stephenson and Hugo Govett, ran riot in the loose, while scrum-half Matt Britton’s sniping breaks repeatedly asked questions of Bournemouth’s fringe

defence. Clifton ran straight and hard at Bournemouth, and their direct and physical approach paid dividends, when Golledge barged his way over for an unconverted try on 47 minutes.

The visitors began to fall off tackles, and powerful centre Massey thundered over for two tries, both converted by Foley, in quick succession.

The home side, now brimming with confidence, continued to turn the screw, with further tries by Kelly (2) and Pomphrey, before man-of-the-match Quinn deservedly got in on the try-scoring act on 74 minutes.

Bournemouth wing Russ Westcott went over for an unconverted try, but it was no more than a consolation.

Clifton director of rugby Darren Lloyd was delighted by the way his side adapted to the visitors defensive tactics.

He said: “We identified the need to change our attacking strategy at half-time.

“We told the lads to be more direct and confrontational, especially at the breakdown.

“We’ve been threatening to click for a while, and I’m pleased by the way it all came together for us in the second half.

“We know there are better sides than Bournemouth in this division, and we’re not getting carried away with the result. But after being second best last week against Taunton, we asked the players for a response, and we got one today.”

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16 Internationals: France 38 Tonga 18, Ireland 15 Australia 32, Italy 37 Fiji 31, Wales 40 Argentina 6.

LV=Cup: Gloucester 20 Newcastle 3, Harlequins 26 Sale 31, Newport-Gw’t Drag’s 20 Wasps 8, Ospreys 13 Cardiff Blues 21, Worcester 18 Leicester 21.

GKIPA Championship: Bedford 13 Moseley 26, Jersey 27 Cornish Pirates 25, London Scot 26 Leeds Carnegie 15.

National Two South: Ampthill 78 Dings Crusaders 10, Bishop’s Stortford 31 Exmouth 7, Cambridge 48 Taunton 25, Canterbury 46 Redruth 22, Clifton 53 Bournemouth 13, Cornish All Blacks 22 Chinnor 20, Hartpury College 46 Shelford 23, London Irish WG 25 Southend 27.

South West One West: Bideford 11 Thornbury 12.

Western Counties North: Avon 19 Barton Hill 17.

Gloucester Premier: Whitehall 54 Dursley 5.

Somerset Premier: Bristol Barbarians 22 Tor 25.

Somerset One: Hornets 53 Old Sulians 0, Midsomer Norton 13 Wellington 18, North Petherton 19 Wells 3.

Somerset Two North: Midsomer Norton 7 Clevedon 40.

Somerset Two South: Hornets 19 Ivel Barbarians 17.

Somerset Three North: Keynsham 34 Stothert & Pitt 7, Midsomer Norton 14 Imperial 45.

YESTERDAY Internationals: Scotland 0 South Africa 28.

The LV= Cup: Bath 37 Exeter 15, London Irish 18 Northampton 39, Saracens 51 Scarlets 10.

Greene King IPA Championship: London Welsh 28 Ealing 0, Bristol 36 Rotherham 26, Nottingham 15 Plymouth Albion 10.

Monday, November 18, 2013

www.bristolpost.co.uk

Golf

Tennis

Stenson eyes

Czech Republic retain their Davis Cup title

up the Majors as an encore

Post reporter epsport@b-nm.co.uk SWEDE Henrik Stenson hailed a “dream season” as he claimed an historic double in fitting fashion by storming to victory in the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.

Stenson became the first man to win the European Tour’s Race to Dubai and FedEx Cup on the PGA Tour in the same year thanks to a commanding six-shot victory at Jumeirah Golf Estates.

The 37-year-old carded a flawless closing 64, signing off in style with a tap-in eagle on the 18th, to finish with a tournament-record total of 25 under par, with money list rival Ian Poulter a valiant second following a 66.

France’s Victor Dubuisson was two shots further back in third, with Holland’s Joost Luiten fourth and a trio of former world number ones – Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood – sharing fifth.

“It has been an incredible summer for me, the (autumn) in America was great and now this,” said Stenson, who was second in the Open and third in the US PGA Championship before his FedEx Cup triumph.

“It has been a dream season. I played so well this week. I knew the guys would try to catch me, especially Ian who never gives up. I wanted to stay ahead of him and I managed to do that.

“I don’t know how I am going to be able to top this next year, but I am going to give my best in the Majors and that (becoming the first male Swedish player to win one) would be the icing on the cake.”

Stenson also had the added satisfaction of winning 100 dollars from Poulter after keeping the Englishman behind him on the money list, with Poulter also having to act as his waiter for the evening.

“You should stop when you’re ahead so he’s not getting another bet,” joked Stenson.

“I can’t stand that much pressure for 100 dollars. I haven’t had the money yet but I’ll have a photographer with me when I do.”

Poulter, who was one of the first to

congratulate Stenson after waving a white towel in surrender on the 18th, said: “I have to take my hat off to him, unbelievable. I tried to run him down as hard as I could but even with a sore wrist he has pressed on and I just could not get close enough.

“Henrik has not made a mistake all week and I just had to make sure of second place and some valuable Ryder Cup points.”

Stenson won his first European Tour title in 2001 but then went

“

...............................................................

I don’t know how I am going to be able to top this next year, but I am going to give my best in the Majors

Henrik Stenson

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through the first of two career slumps, the second coming in 2011 and leaving him 230th in the world rankings at the start of last year.

He also lost a reported seven-figure sum in disgraced financier Allen Stanford’s Ponzi scheme in 2009, just months after the biggest victory of his career to date in the Players Championship at Sawgrass.

Add in some serious health problems – one caused by a parasite infection he contracted while on holiday – and Stenson’s form in 2013 is all the more remarkable, with a share of third place in the Scottish Open followed up by runners-up finishes in the Open and WGC Bridgestone Invitational and third place in the US PGA Championship in a five-week spell.

He then won the second FedEx Cup play-off event, the Deutsche Bank Championship, to move to the top of the standings.

And although Tiger Woods regained top spot as Stenson finished 33rd in the BMW Championship in Chicago, as one of the top five heading into Atlanta Stenson’s destiny was firmly in his own hands.

Those hands had snapped his

● Henrik Stenson celebrates his DP World Tour Championship title driver on the final hole at Conway Farms in total frustration at a closing 74.

While he also damaged his locker and was forced to “apologise to the appropriate parties” and pay for the damage, according to his agent.

But just six days later the popular

Swede – who was struggling badly with tendinitis in his wrist earlier in the week – had his hands on two trophies and an eight-figure payday for a wire-to-wire triumph.

Meanwhile, Bristol’s Chris Wood finished joint 29th the same position he ends the Race to Dubai rankings.

Motorsport

Ogier‘s remarkable year continues with victory in the Wales Rally GB record than his 29-year-old namesake and countryman.

Finland’s Latvala had won the last two editions of the British rally, but it was Thierry Neuville, of Belgium, in his Ford Fiesta RS who claimed the final podium position and second place in the championship.

Ogier, who eclipsed his previous best in Wales of 11th in 2011, said after his victory: “I’m so happy, and big thanks to the team once again – the car was perfect.

“I came here knowing this rally

was not the best for me in the past, and even with that we managed to win a battle with a team-mate who feels at home here.

“It was another great victory for us and the end of a perfect season.

“It’s going to be a hard challenge to do better next year.”

Two-time winner Latvala ultimately drifted out to 21.8 seconds behind his team-mate, having been just 19.5secs off the pace after the two opening stages.

“I’m disappointed because I won

this rally in 2011 and 2012 and I was hungry for the third victory, but it didn’t work out this year,” he said.

“Speed-wise it was good, but there have been too many little mistakes, and a bit of hesitation.

“It’s like I haven’t had the rhythm all the weekend.

“That’s the problem and that’s what I need to concentrate on next year.

“The speed is there, that’s the main thing, now the rhythm needs to be right.”

RADEK Stepanek ensured the Czech Republic successfully defended their Davis Cup title as he claimed a straight-sets victory over Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic to complete a 3-2 win in the final at Belgrade Arena.

The world number 44 became the first player to win consecutive fifth singles rubbers in the final after outclassing Lajovic, ranked down at 117 in the world, in what was undoubtedly the biggest match of his 23-year-old opponent’s career.

Stepanek, who beat Nicolas Almagro in four sets in the fifth match of last year’s final – in which Czech Republic defeated Spain 3-2 – comfortably outplayed the young Serb to recorded a 6-3, 6-1, 6-1 triumph.

Earlier yesterday, Novak Djokovic made sure the final went to a fifth rubber against the defending champions as he saw off Tomas Berdych.

The world number two claimed a 6-4, 7-6 (7-5), 6-2 victory over the 28-year-old in two hours and 42 minutes to level the contest at 2-2.

The Czech Republic took a 2-1 lead on Saturday when Stepanek and Berdych needed only three sets to beat Iliya Bozoljac and Nenad Zimonjic 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4).

But yesterday, and in front of his home crowd, the 2013 Australian Open winner ensured the match would go to a final rubber as Serbia attempted to wrestle back the title they won in 2010.

Lajovic, winner of the 2012 Samarkand Challenger, was a late replacement for the hosts after Janko Tipsarevic was ruled out due to injury on Thursday night.

Tipsarevic was forced to admit defeat in his battle to recover from a heel injury sustained in Valencia in October, denting Serbian hopes of winning a second title after their 2010 final triumph over France.

Stepanek took a 4-1 lead in the first set before the young Serb pulled it back to 4-2 and then 5-3.

But the 34-year-old went on to claim a 6-3 win and leave Czech Republic two sets away from retaining the title.

Lajovic looked like he was struggling to read what Stepanek was going to do and fell 4-0 behind in the second set, working hard to return as his opponent had him running all over the court.

The Serbian won the following game but his errors were pilling up and it was going to require a mammoth effort to come back after the Czech took the next two games to put the visitors two sets up.

The 34-year-old Stepanek, who also broke his own record as the oldest player to win a live fifth rubber in Davis Cup history, took the first game before Lajovic held his serve to make it 1-1.

Djokovic and the Serbia team were willing their man on from the sidelines but with telling experience over his young opponent, Stepanek made it look almost easy as he won the next four games.

The crowd were still getting behind Lajovic as the match was drawing to a conclusion but his defensive lob went long.

Stepanek then put away a forehand and a big serve out wide before a clinical smash made it 6-1 and handed the Czechs their second consecutive title.

EPB-E01-S3

SEBASTIEN Ogier crowned his remarkable World Rally Championship-winning season in style by clinching victory at Wales Rally GB yesterday.

The Frenchman, who secured his maiden title last month, collected a ninth win of the season in his Volkswagen Polo R when beating team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala into second place in Llandudno.

Only outgoing champion Sebastien Loeb, who won ten out of 13 stages in 2005, can boast a better campaign

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www.bristolpost.co.uk

Monday, November 18, 2013

Bristol Rovers 2013-14 The season so far . . .

Bristol City 2013-14 The season so far . . .

Bristol Rugby 2013-14 The season so far . . .

LEAGUE ONE AUGUST

3 Bradford (H)................................................................................................................ 2-2 6 Gillingham (Capital One, First Round) (A) ................................................................. 2-0 11 Coventry (A) ............................................................................................................ 4-5 17 Wolverhampton (H) ................................................................................................. 1-2 24 MK Dons (A) ............................................................................................................ 2-2 27 Crystal Palace (Capital One, Second Round) (H)................................................... 2-1 31 Gillingham (A) .......................................................................................................... 1-1

SEPTEMBER

SEPTEMBER

SEPTEMBER

15 Cornish Pirates (Sandy Park)................................................................... 21-23 22 London Scottish (H) .................................................................................. 31-18 28 Jersey (A) ................................................................................................. 26-17

4 Bristol Rovers (JPT, First Round) (H) ........................................................................ 2-1 14 Peterborough (H) ..................................................................................................... 0-3 17 Shrewsbury (H) ....................................................................................................... 1-1 21 Swindon (A) ............................................................................................................. 2-3 24 Southampton (Capital One) (A)............................................................................... 0-2 28 Colchester (H) ......................................................................................................... 1-1

4 Bristol City (JPT, First Round) (A) .............................................................. 1-2 7 Plymouth (A) .............................................................................................. 0-1 14 Dag & Red (A) ......................................................................................... 0-2 21 Hartlepool (H) .......................................................................................... 2-2 28 Southend (A) ........................................................................................... 1-1

OCTOBER

5 Fleetwood (H) ............................................................................................ 1-3 12 Mansfield (A) ........................................................................................... 1-1 19 Wycombe (H) .......................................................................................... 0-1 22 Accrington Stanley (A) ............................................................................. 1-2 26 Chesterfield (H) ....................................................................................... 0-0

NOVEMBER

2 Oxford Utd (A) ........................................................................................... 1-0 8York City (FA Cup) (H) ............................................................................... 3-3 16 Bury (H) ................................................................................................... 1-1 19 York (FA Cup replay)................................................................................ (A) 23 Burton Albion ............................................................................................(A) 26 Cheltenham ..............................................................................................(A) 30 AFC Wimbledon ...................................................................................... (H)

DECEMBER

14 Morecambe ..............................................................................................(A) 21 Portsmouth .............................................................................................. (H) 26 Torquay ....................................................................................................(A) 29 Rochdale ..................................................................................................(A)

OCTOBER

6 Bedford (H) ................................................................................................. 45-27 12 Leeds B& I Cup (H) .................................................................................. 21-17 19 Aberavon B&I Cup (A)........................................................... abandoned 24-20 27 Nottingham (H) ......................................................................................... 33-18

LEAGUE TWO AUGUST

3 Exeter (A) .................................................................................................. 1-2 6 Watford (Capital One Cup, First Round) (H) ............................................. 1-3 10 Scunthorpe (H) ........................................................................................ 0-0 17 Newport County(A) .................................................................................. 0-1 24 York (H) ................................................................................................... 3-2 31 Northampton (H) ...................................................................................... 1-0

OCTOBER

5 Port Vale (A) .............................................................................................................. 1-1 8 Wycombe (JPT Second Round) (A) .......................................................................... 1-2 19 Crewe (A) ................................................................................................................ 0-1 22 Brentford (H) ............................................................................................................ 1-2 26 Carlisle (A) ............................................................................................................... 4-2

NOVEMBER

2 Plymouth (A)............................................................................................... 38-31 9 London Welsh (A) ......................................................................................... 7-22 17 Rotherham (H) .......................................................................................... 36-26 23 Cornish Pirates ............................................................................................. (A)

DECEMBER

1 Leeds .............................................................................................................. (H) 6 Gala B&I Cup .................................................................................................. (H) 10 Aberavon B&I Cup ........................................................................................ (A) 14 Gala B&I Cup ................................................................................................ (A) 21 Ealing ........................................................................................................... (A)

JANUARY 2014

5 Moseley .......................................................................................................... (H) 12 Aberavon B&I Cup........................................................................................ (H) 18 Leeds B&I Cup ............................................................................................. (A) 26 Plymouth ...................................................................................................... (H)

NOVEMBER

2 Oldham (H) ................................................................................................................ 1-1 5 Crawley Town (H) ...................................................................................................... 2-0 9 Dagenham & Redbridge (FA Cup) (H) ...................................................................... 3-0 16 Tranmere (A) ........................................................................................................... 1-1 23 Sheffield United ........................................................................................................(H) 26 Leyton Orient ............................................................................................................(H) 30 Preston ..................................................................................................................... (A)

DECEMBER

7 Tamworth (FA Cup) .................................................................................................... (A) 14 Rotherham ................................................................................................................(H) 21 Notts County ............................................................................................................. (A) 26 Walsall ......................................................................................................................(H) 29 Stevenage ................................................................................................................(H)

JANUARY

2 Jersey ............................................................................................................. (H) 8 Bedford ........................................................................................................... (A) 15 Nottingham ................................................................................................... (A)

1 Leyton Orient .............................................................................................................. (A) 4 Coventry .....................................................................................................................(H) 11 Bradford .................................................................................................................... (A) 18 MK Dons................................................................................................................... (H) 25 Wolverhampton ........................................................................................................ (A) 28 Brentford ................................................................................................................... (A)

MARCH

FEBRUARY

FEBRUARY

1 Rotherham...................................................................................................... (A) 9 Cornish Pirates ............................................................................................... (H) 22 Leeds ............................................................................................................ (A) 30 Ealing ........................................................................................................... (H)

1 Carlisle .......................................................................................................................(H) 8 Oldham ....................................................................................................................... (A) 15 Tranmere.................................................................................................................. (H) 22 Sheffield United ........................................................................................................ (A)

APRIL

MARCH

5 Moseley .......................................................................................................... (A) 12 B&I Cup .......................................................................................... quarter-final 18 London Welsh .............................................................................................. (H) 26 London Scottish............................................................................................ (A)

MAY

3 B&I Cup ................................................................................................ semi-final 10 Championship semi-final ......................................................................... 1st leg 17 Championship semi-final ....................................................................... 2nd leg 23 B&I Cup ....................................................................................................... final 29 Championship final.................................................................................. 1st leg

JUNE

1 Gillingham .................................................................................................................. (H) 8 Shrewsbury ................................................................................................................ (A) 11 Peterborough............................................................................................................ (A) 15 Swindon.................................................................................................................... (H) 22 Colchester ................................................................................................................ (A) 25 Port Vale................................................................................................................... (H) 29 Rotherham ................................................................................................................ (A)

JANUARY

1 Cheltenham ............................................................................................... (H) 4 Scunthorpe .................................................................................................(A) 11 Exeter ....................................................................................................... (H) 18 York .......................................................................................................... (A) 25 Newport County ....................................................................................... (H) 28 Accrington Stanley .................................................................................. (H)

FEBRUARY

1 Chesterfield ................................................................................................(A) 8 Oxford Utd ................................................................................................. (H) 15 Bury ..........................................................................................................(A) 22 Burton Albion........................................................................................... (H)

MARCH

1 Northampton............................................................................................... (A) 8 Plymouth ................................................................................................... (H) 11 Dag & Red............................................................................................... (H) 15 Hartlepool ................................................................................................. (A) 22 Southend ................................................................................................. (H) 25 Fleetwood .................................................................................................(A) 29 Morecambe ............................................................................................. (H)

APRIL

APRIL

5 Preston .......................................................................................................................(H) 12 Walsall ...................................................................................................................... (A) 19 Notts County............................................................................................................. (H) 21 Stevenage ................................................................................................................ (A) 26 Crewe .......................................................................................................................(H)

5 AFC Wimbledon ......................................................................................... (A) 12 Torquay ................................................................................................... (H) 19 Portsmouth ............................................................................................... (A) 21 Rochdale ................................................................................................. (H) 26 Wycombe .................................................................................................(A)

MAY

4 Championship final.................................................................................. 2nd leg

MAY

3 Mansfield ................................................................................................... (H)

3 Crawley Town............................................................................................................. (A)

Columnist

EPB-E01-S3

Football management is all about dealing with hairy situations, just ask Lance MANY matches in local football were postponed recently due to the rain.

This is unlikely to be a one off, as long-range weather forecasters are already predicting a wet, and then extremely cold, winter ahead. I hope they are wrong.

The problem football clubs have when matches are called off is then trying to arrange another date for the fixture, which usually means an evening kick-off. As a manager of a football team, I know how challenging it is to have players available for these rearranged games.

It’s hard enough getting them to arrive on time most Saturdays.

A couple of seasons ago, when man-

Dave Payne Writes for the Green ’Un aging Highridge United, our team went over two months without playing, so the last couple of months of that campaign was crammed with evening kick-offs. I asked my boss at work at the time if he minded me leaving early so I could attend these games.

He replied: “I have no problem with

that, as long as you make the time up.”

He didn’t seem too amused when I said: “That’s fine then, forty five past twenty six!”

I have mentioned in this column many times down the years players I have been associated with, who I can safely say are not the brightest of people. I have a player at my present club who is either winding me up every week with the comments he comes out with, or he is genuinely thick. Step forward, Lance Gingell.

Actually, I shouldn’t have put those two words in front of his name as he probably thinks that’s his new position on the pitch!

A classic example of Lance’s stupidity occurred a couple of weeks ago.

On leaving the changing room after finishing our game on the Saturday, I said to Lance that we had a midweek fixture against Wells.

He looked at me incredulously and said: “What? The country, Wales?”

He had no hint of a smile on his face, so I said: “Are you being serious?”

I went on to say: “Are you expecting Gareth Bale and others like Craig Bellamy to march out of our changing rooms to take on a team at our level of football?” His next response left me utterly speechless. He said: “Well, I thought it might be an FA Cup tie!”

It doesn’t end there, after our last

game one of our players shouted out that there was a massive spider in the showers. Honestly, you would think I was running a girls team with all the screaming going on. I said that the spider will probably be in there for ages, what with all those legs to wash!

One of our players was worried that it might be one of those false widow spiders that have been reportedly spotted around our shores.

As Lance was standing next to me, I told him of reports that said a single bite from a false widow spider is strong enough to kill you.

Lance answered: “To be honest mate, who in their right mind would be stupid enough to bite a spider?”