Ten-try Bristol bring Gala down to earth

Bristol Rugby surged to a 62-7 victory over Gala in the B&I Cup yesterday, scoring ten tries in the Pool Five clash at the Memorial Stadium.

Galas Chris Auld is faced by Bristols Mark Lilley (1) and Ben Skirving (8). Picture: Keith Fowler

Bristol went in front inside five minutes as Iain Grieve rounded off a well-organised driving lineout to dab down. And after Gala lock Craig Borthwick was given a yellow card for illegally hauling down Lucas Slowik, Bristol scrum-half Callum Braley was able to coast in under the posts.

Braley added a second moments later, stretching over after Slowik had kicked clear. Bristol then went over for the bonus point try, courtesy of the impressive 17-year-old Slowik who muscled over from close range. Adrian Jarvis converted.

Ollie Hayes was next to cross, capitalising on Andy Short’s burst clear to touch down and put the home side in control at 31-0. Short scored Bristol’s sixth try of the afternoon, cantering over in the corner to heap misery on the ragged Gala defence.

There was still time before the half-time interval for Grieve to beat two defenders and burrow over for his second try. Jarvis struck the conversion to give his side an imposing 45-0 lead at the break.

Bristol reached the 50-point mark ten minutes after the restart as Redford Pennycook touched down following another surge from a lineout. Braley sealed his hat-trick when he flew through the Gala defence, Jarvis adding the extras to take Bristol to 57-0 up.

Replacement prop Ellis Genge marked his debut for Bristol with a try minutes later, showing great feet to waltz over from eight metres.

Gala grabbed a consolation try through lock Ben Toolis after Bristol had lost Steve Uren to the sin-bin.

Bristol: Tovey; Short, Slowik, Otto, Edwards; Jarvis, Braley; Lilley, Hayes, Davis, Sambucetti, Joyce, Grieve, Pennycook, Skirving. Subs used: Freestone, Genge, Cresswell, Uren, Grindal, Roberts, Uren.

Gala: Speirs; Robertson, Auld, Emond, Draycott; O’Hagan, McLean; Sutherland, Bryce, Johnstone, Borthwick, Toolis, Tod, Chapman, Robertson. Subs used: Bertram, Mackintosh, Johnstone, Dods, Mein, Reveley, Scott.

Referee: G Conway