Bristol Harlequins 29 - Old Bristolians 38

Henry Bird scores four tries to help secure a win against Western Counties North regulars Bristol Harlequins. Nick Reed scored the other try, and with Jack Price kicking all the conversions and adding a penalty, OBs built on the previous weeks win against Berry Hill to maintain second spot in the table.

With the sun shining, OBs were preparing for their first away game of the campaign at Bristol Harlequins. With some injuries from the previous week, the preparations were not helped when full back Charlie Howes couldn’t make the game. This led to Joel Keen, who only recently returned from honeymoon, to make his first start of the season at inside centre, with Nick Reed moving to full back. Tim Sandy, Wayne Cockram and Rob Davies were also making their 1st XV first starts of the season.

The game opened up with both sides making several unforced errors. After the play settled down, some good handling worked the ball to Henry Bird on the left wing who found himself with a bit of space near the OBs 10 metre line. Henry demonstrated his pace and strength by exploiting the space by rounding his wing and the covering defence for a memorable try down the touch line. Jack Price duly kicked the touch line conversion.

Bristol Harlequins soon found their rhythm, and attacked both around the fringes of the breakdown and through the mid field. Half way through the first half, a wayward return kick from Harlequins was picked up by scrum half Tom Sellers who feed Henry Bird coming around off his wing into midfield. Returning to where the kick was made from, Henry used his pace to round the defence and score his second of the day. Jack again kicking the conversion.

Harlequins scored a well worked try after several phases of possession. OBs then secured a line out inside the Harlequins half and a training ground move into the middle of the field resulted in quick ball which the backs, and in particular Rob Davies, exploited well, and this resulted in Nick Reed having a simple run in for the third OBs try of the day just before half time. Jack added the conversion and OBs went into the break firmly in control.

The first 15 minutes after the break was dominated by Harlequins, who scored three tries and totally controlled all aspects of play. They secured quick ball and this resulted in the OBs defence being overwhelmed much to the delight of the home support. Harlequins went into the lead.

OBs regrouped and started to counter through several strong defensive and offensives efforts. Wayne Cockram leading by example with several big tackles and long carries. The fitness of the team started to show and after several phases, Henry Bird found himself with a bit of space and secured his hat trick with a run in from just inside the Harlequins half. Jack kept up his kicking record and added the conversion. This took OBs to within a point of Harlequins, and after Harlequins infringed, Jack kicked a penalty to take OBs back into the lead.
Harlequins started to chase the game, and Henry Bird, as he had done the previous week, read the play well to take an intercept and canter in under the posts. Jack Price kicked the conversion to take OBs nine points clear of Harlequins.

Scrum half Tom Sellers and wing Dan Evans had to leave the pitch injured, which meant back rowers Andrew Montague and Tristan Fowler formed an interesting mid field combination and prop Matt Davies had to move into the back row. Unanimously, Henry Bird was voted man of the match.

The Bristol Evening Post report can be found via this link.

Old Bristolians are home to Burnham-on-Sea this weekend.