St Bernadette’s 31  Frampton 0  

With a depleted side, due to call off and injuries, the back line was composed mostly of wingers. Despite being out of position they were able to contain the larger Frampton backs and took a comfortable win.

The forwards dominated in the lineout and put pressure on their scrums. The back row was able to stop the no8 pickup and recycled quick ball for our backs to keep us on the attack.

Luke Fraser got the first score after a maul on the 5m line when he took the ball from Craig Bryson to drive over on the blind side.

Pat Hagan then did the same with the help of Too Tall.

A cross-field kick from Brett bounced behind the winger and Ben Collett kicked the ball on and touched down for try number 3.

From full back James Moss returned a kick, looped Ricky Cox and ran around the defence to score.

Several changes were made in the second half and with the wind in our faces it proved difficult to make ground. The only score came when Brett kicked behind the defence after several phases of play. He ran on to hack the ball on and touched it down. 

Sean Fraser 19/11/2008

St Bernadette’s 18             Old Bristolians 0

In another match in which all 18 men played as a team Saints dominated and made good use of all the ball they won. Jordan Porter rolled over for a try after an inside pass from Nick Marshall. The Luke Crehan continued his scoring streak after the ball was moved along the line and he stepped outside of the defender to slide over the line. Brett Ford converted and got a penalty. 

Sean Fraser 10/11/2008

Avonmouth 8     St Bernadette’s 17

With our heavy weight front row it took Avonmouth less than 10 minutes to opt for uncontested scrums due to their lack of a front row. There lighter pack used this to their advantage but were slowly warn down by our ball carriers. Tries were scored by Barry O’Driscol, Peter McCann and Mike Watkins

Sean Fraser 05/11/2008

St Bernadette’s 36             Cotham Park 0

The first half was very close, Cotham Park kept up constant pressure and did well with their counter rucking. Once this had been addressed there was more time for the scrum half to release the back line. Saints leading at half time by 5 to nil with a try from Ben Chase.

From the kick off we scored again and then began to dominate with strong forward play and quick ball in the backs. Brett Ford scored followed by Nick Marshall taking a dummy switch and dragged 3 tacklers over the line to score. Paul Marshall was used on the crash ball due to his lack of pace (according to Nick).The best try of the game came from Luke Crehan (he told me this so must be true). Brett did a classic wild pass that flew past Nick and went straight to the winger. He ran, stumbled, got up before the defence could reach him and staggered over the line. It could have been more but for a few dropped passes from Ricky at Full Back (Luke said that as well).

Sean Fraser 28/10/2008

Imperial 5      St Bernadette’s / Barbarians 45

With Barton Hill cancelling at a late hour our 2^nd team went to Imperial to help boost a Barbarians team of 9. All players had a game and it made the Barb’s day to be on a winning side. Rob Fisher thought he was in the army as the ref kept marching him back! Chris Lloyd has a strange rash after wearing another clubs shirt. He also gave some coaching to their front row on how to go forward in a scrum.

With a good mixture of youth and experience and a back row that played well as a unit we held into a well earn lead to win comfortably.

Brett Ford scored all the points with 1 try, conversion and 3 penalties. The scrum was matched by the large Saracens pack but our tackling and ball winning at the brake down stopped all their attacks until the last few minutes of the game. Good debut at full back for Ricki Cox after a shaky start and he defensive play by all the backs kept us on the front foot.

Line outs went well with Too Tall and Ben Warren. Or try came when Ben broke from a maul on their 22 and passed to Barry, he ran infield and switched with Brett who broke through the first tackle and ran in under the posts. 

Sean Fraser 06/10/2008

Imperial 0                  St Bernadette’s 49

With a mixture of 2^nd and 3^rd team players Saints were to strong for Imperial and scored within the first 5 minutes. After a break by Jamie Hodges he knocked on close to the line. From the following scrum we took the ball against the head and Eddy Quirk controlled the ball to take it over the line.

Their prop then left the field and it was uncontested scrums again. We reorganised the pack to moved those who were more mobile into the back and second rows (Lloydie to hooker). There was a very messy spell of around 10-minute while the forwards go to grips with not being able to scrummage. We then started to move the ball and the support play kept is in control. With a combination of missed tackles good ball retention we began to knock up the score.

Nick Marshal got 2, Barry O’d got 2, Jamie Hodges got 1 and Peter Russ got the last one. A galloping run from a restart by Big Show was ended just before the try line. The main highlights of the game were the 2 or 3 dropped passes by Mr Lloyd when he had a clear run into the line. Also Sam Moore appeared to be invisible as every time in space the ball carrier either kicked or ran the other way.  

Sean Fraser 22/04/2008

Avon Vale 7              St Bernadette’s 17

A great result for a team that was thrown together at the last minute and having to fit around those who had a car.

In the first half we were against the wind but played a kicking game as our backs looked to be able to out pace Avon Vale’s. The first incident of the game was when Aaron Smith, who was standing in at prop, hurt his neck and we had to go to non contested scrums.

This played to our advantage, as we did not have the most mobile of back row. So not having to push and run was a benefit.

The first try was from a turn over and the ball was moved along the line to Bob Combes. He broke through the first tackle and ran down the wing to dive just short of the line. He then realised is mistake and got back up to cross. Later he admitted that he had mistaken the 5-meter line for the try line and was trying to get closer to the posts for the kick. Converted by Luke Fraser.

Avon had several chances to take the lead but dropped the ball even when there was no pressure.

The next try from Chris Lloyd was a classic. After several passages of play the ref gave us a penalty on the left side of their 22. Luke gathered the ball and did not hear Chris shouting not to take a quick tap (due to being knackered). The tap was taken and Luke drew in the first line of defence and popped of to Chris. He ran over the first tackler and stepped of his left foot to dodge the next defender and then stepped again to gallop under the posts.

Avon then struck back with a break in the centre to score and convert.

With 5 minute to go Pete Russ broke from the back of a scrum and passed to Sean Fraser. Steve Meacham was close by for a crash ball. He was held up but got off a basketball type pass to Tom Tiley who scored.

Good performances were also put in by Jamie Hodges on the wing and having Too Tall in the lineouts made it easier for our stand in hooker Barry O’Driscoll. Mr Gregory got his 3^rd sin bin in as many weeks and Finbar was is normal quiet self.

Man of the match was Luke Fraser mainly for his tackling keeping the pack moving forward and the opposition on the back foot. 

Sean Fraser 31/03/2008

Old Bristolians 5     St Bernadette’s 19

A very lightweight team with Finbar weighing as much as the whole back row! Strong tackling and quick ball especially in turn over situations allowed the backs to capitalise on their speed and find space on a wide pitch.

We won more ball on the ground and were able to get to the rucks quicker to secure the ball. The back row linked well with the backs, which created an over lap

All the points were scored in the first half. Blaine scored first after a ruck and quick passing created an over lap. The defenders drifted and left a gap for him to score under the posts.

After the ball popped out of a ruck Dan Harris quickly chipped over the rush defence and gathered the ball. Handed off the centre and then ran around the full back to score.

Blaine then scored again from a long passage of play, which left space for him to run around the winger.  Paul Marshall converted.

The second half was less productive with Tom Tiley linking up well from full back but he kept falling over.

Man of the match must go to Finbar who taught the younger players a lot on how to completely mess up the opposition’s ball without getting caught.

Sean Fraser 08/04/2008

Broad Plain 5           St Bernadette’s 12

It was a very, very wet and sandy pitch which made it look like the players were running along a shore line. Playing a mixture of their 1^st and 2nds we played our 2^nd / 3rds. They started well and made a lot of ground around the edge of the ruck and has lots of runners on the inside of the fly half.

The highlight of the first half was when Chris Clark was asked to leave the field after jumping in front of a player to block his kick and then catching him with his boot. We had a lot of young players and they kept up the tackling to keep us in the game.

The half time score was 5 – 0 to Broad Plain.

Sam more scored when Jordan Porter pickup up from no8 and fee Luke Fraser. The defender was drawn and Sam received the ball to scoot down the line for a try.

Most of the game was spent in their half and they were unable to break out of defence. The deciding try came from Jordan when he charged down a kick inside their 22 and took it over the line. Mark Shields converted.

Sean Fraser 31/03/2008

Old Reds 66         St Bernadette’s 19

Well beaten by a vastly stronger, fitter and well drilled team.

Straight from the kick off Watkins received the ball and his kick for touch was charged down for them to score.

We had a good spell of a round 20 minutes after half time where we score our 19 points but we were already behind by this point. They came back stronger due to fitness and we also made several changes to allow the 3^rd team players (who’s game was cancelled due to cry off in higher teams) to have a run out.

Our best score came when the ball was dropped after a tackle from Watkins on our 10m line. Chris McCormack then picked up and like a “camel charging for an oasis” he made a run for the corner. Steve Meacham (who was watching from a covering position well behind play) said that as he approached the try line he appeared to take off like some one trying to run on ice. Luckily the wind blew and he grounded the ball.

Blaine score after Brett found a gap and passed to Meacham who drew the defence before passing to Blaine to score.

The other try was from a cross-field run by Watkins when he did a dummy switch and then changed direction to go through a gap.

Sean Fraser 03/03/2008

St Bernadette’s 43 Telephones 0

In a very one-sided game there were several good team try’s and once the ball was moved around the pitch the backs were able to exploit the space on the outside.

Luke Crehan scored from our own half after side stepping the full back and then handing off the winger. Dan Harris got 2, both from good support play that allowed him to find the gaps and run in under the posts. Rob Fisher appeared on the outside of Dan for a short pass and galloped into score.

Tom Hagan said that he took 2 against the head even though we struggled in the scrums. James McCormack scored his usual try from a crash ball. 

Sean Fraser 18/02/2008

Frampton  7  St Bernadettes 31

After last weeks performance we fielded only a  few changes and came out clear winners. A very strong first 20 minutes but allowed the larger Frampton pack to come back into the game but in the last 20 they tiered and we capitalised on this. They young players tackled hard and put in a lot of work which stopped Frampton from making and ground.

Jamie Hodges, on the wing, scored 2 tries in his first full game for the 2nds after breaks from the centres. James Gregory got 2 the first from a lineout drive and then after a pass from Jordan Porter to Brett and James appearing on the end.

Dan Harris apparently got the try of the game (info from D Harris) after handing off the full back and touching down for Brett to convert.

Sean Fraser 18/02/2008

Harlequins 27          St Bernadettes 0

Not our strongest 2^nd team but kept with the regular players rather than putting in those who turn up every now and again. All those on the pitch battled well but we beaten in the first half conceding 27 points.

After losing Chris Lloyd to injury we were reduced to 14 but did not concede any points in the second half.

Sean Fraser 12/02/2008

Bishopston 39       St Bernadette’s  5

With Bishopston’s first team having no game and our 2^nd’s being disrupted due to cry off’s this was looking bad. They were a better-drilled team who looked like they played together on a regular basis. Saints stuck at it but never really had a chance of getting into the game.

Sean Fraser 14/01/2008

Chipping Sodbury 18                St Bernadette’s 20

A good start from the away team was nearly thrown away in the last 15 minutes when Sodbury scored 2 tries but Saints came away with a deserved win.

From a ruck Pete McCann took the ball and passed it out along the line where Chris McCormack and Neil Kingdon had joined on a loop. This extra burst of pace created an over lap on the outside so Sam Moore to run in from the half way line. (Apparently)

Second try was started by Jordan Porter in his first game as No 8. He was popped the ball on the blind side of a ruck close to their line and drove over.

Sam Moore scored again from a back row move between Pat Hagan and Jordan. The ball was passed to Dan Harris who fed Sam to score.

The last try was from a line out when Chris Lloyd locked onto the ball and the forward drive carried him over the line.

Sean Fraser 18/12/2007

Sean Fraser 11/12/2007

St Bernadettes 30         Chipping Sodbury 19

The team that looked more like last weeks 3rds than a 2nds due to cry off and call ups to the 1^st.  In  the first 15 minutes we took the lead, looked like we were cruising. For some reason everybody had a little nap until the last 15 minutes, by which time we were getting well and truly beaten. A couple of changes were made from the bench which saw some good passages of play resulting in turning it around and winning.

Nice to see Martin O’Driscoll  making a come back couldn’t last the full 80 minutes though (to many fags). Richard Shepard played a full 80 with no injuries, which is good. Dan Harris scored a couple of tries looking sharp in the spells of play when we did play as a team. Tim Cox also looked strong going forward which is good news if he can get his confidence back the first team is a must. I must add Pat Hagan was on a planet far, far away until he was removed for safety reasons (let it be a lesson, don’t get totalled on a Friday night).

Well played the team.

Sean Fraser 13/11/2007

St Bernadettes 43         Bishopston 0

Saints dominated all round with a strong forward platform allowing the backs plenty of space to break through a disorganised defence.

The first try came from a break down the wing by Jordan Porter who was tackled but the ball was quickly recycled. It moved quickly along the line missing the full back and Luke Fraser rounded the last man and touched close to the posts.

Chris Lloyd got 2, both from lineout drives. Finbar took a crash penalty and bulldozed his way over the line. Craig Bryson got his 2^nd try in 2 games following a pickup and drive from a ruck close to their line.

Brett Ford converted all but one and also slotted over a penalty.

Sean Fraser 22/10/2007

Southmead 0    St Bernadettes 29 

With the 3^rd team being cancelled and Southmead 2nds unable to travel we sent a mixture of both across town to Southmead. There were several new players from last year’s juniors, a couple of the old colt’s team and a new no 8.The game was a forward dominated affair with strong scrummaging and line out.

Try’s were scored by Giorgio, Bud back after a long rest (fill free to ask him about his try, if you have an hour to spare). Craig made some good ground from no8 and was rewarded with a try in his first game. Apparently Toad got on the score sheet from a lineout when he hopped over and Sam Moore got the only score for the backs. Paul Marshall got 2 conversions.  

With a mixture of new and experienced players it was a good result. Several replacements were used and everyone played well as a team. 

Sean Fraser 16/10/2007

This was a much harder game than reflected in the score line. A very close first half in which both teams were evenly matched in the set pieces but we began to make more ground on the runner ball and the offloading during the tackle worked well due to good support play.

Quick recycling allowed Paul Marshall score the first try from inside centre converted by Luke Fraser. Old B's winger then dived for the corner for a try, this was disputed as Chopper had held him up and ripped the ball away. But with no touch judge the referee awarded the try. We then struck back with a charge up the field by the forwards and finished off by Pete McCann who carried 3 players over the line to score. Old B's than had a lineout on our 22 which, through our poor tackling, allowed their centre to cut back in dodge through to score.

Half time 12 - 10
The second half started well with the slop and a but of wind behind us. We got 2 early penalties for constant infringements and these were slotted over by Luke Fraser. The game became a bit more ragged due to the heat and fitness levels but we continued to pile on the pressure. Ryan Davis on the wing played well but was not given the space required to beat his opposite number for pace. Blain had a good game at centre with good ball handling and tackling. The game was won by the support play of the back row players with Lee Dorrington winning lots of ball on the ground and the 2 Ben's combining well in the tackle and support. The last try was from a turnover in the tackle which was picked up by Ben warren who drew the defence and popped it to Neil Kingdon to score in the corner, converted by Luke.

Sean Fraser 17/09/2007

St Bernadettes v Kingswood 46:5

A good team performance provided a comfortable win to kick off the 2^nd team season. The game had uncontested scrums due to Kingswood being unable to field a front row. Thanks to Pat and Jordan for playing half a game each for the opposition.

The game started with some good driving mauls from the forwards and we dominated the lineout so were able to keep an extra play in the backs to generate the overlap.

5 trys were scored in the first half. 2 run in from our own 22 by Luke Fraser, a forward drive allowed “Big Show” to touch down and Ben Thomas carried one over from the No 8 position.

In the second halfway decided to run through a few moves and vary the line out by trying some peels and drives. This did not produce as many trys but allowed the team to practice their options without the pressure of having to win. 2 trys were scored by winger Pete Russ and his quick lineout on half way allowed Chris McCormack to glide through the defence to score under the posts. 

Sean Fraser 10/09/2007

 Barbarians Tournament
        lost 5:0 to imperial
        drew 0:0 with Barbarians
        Lost 25:0 to Old Reds

Saturday 01/09/2007