Jarvis kicks Bristol to victory over Moseley
Bristol were victorious over Moseley at the Memorial Stadium this evening, with the only try of the match coming courtesy of Tom Arscott. Final score 19-9.
It is over ten years since these two sides faced each with Bristol inflicting a 58-18 romp at the Memorial Stadium in November 1998 followed by a 43-3 bashing the following January.
Bristol went in to this game having made two changes with Tom Arscott replacing Lee Robinson on the right wing and Mark Irish at loose head prop taking over from Alex Clarke.
Fly-half Chris Ashwin started from the bench for his first match after a shoulder injury in pre-season at Newbury and is joined by scrum half Robbie Shaw, who joined this season from Esher, replacing Tom Arscott and Sam Alford.
The visitors made five personnel and two positional changes from the side that beat Plymouth Albion last weekend but included former Bristol players Chevvy Pennycook at open side flanker and centre Andy Reay plus a number of players with dual registration at Gloucester.
Bristol had the first opportunity to score when David Blaney broke through into the Moseley 22 where he was tackled. When the ball was recycled, the pass from Adrian Jarvis was intercepted by Rob Thirlby on the wing.
Referee Andrew Small judged that the former Northampton player was offside but the penalty attempt from Jarvis was wide of the uprights. Bristol continued to apply the pressure until, after 15 minutes, Tom Arscott was just beaten to his chip over the head of the last defender.
Still Moseley were forced to defend and again they were caught offsite in front of their own posts and Jarvis made no mistake with the kick to put Bristol on the scoreboard after 19 minutes (3-0).
The visitors were immediately back on level terms when Bristol were penalised just outside their own 22 for joining the ruck from the side. Fly-half Tristan Roberts, the ex-Cinderford half back who has dual registration with Gloucester, slotted the ball between the uprights. (3-3)
Just after the half hour Luke Arscott collected a Moseley kick ahead just inside his own 22 but when he was quickly tackled the full back was penalised for failing to release the ball and Roberts put the visitors ahead from the touchline (3-6).
A couple of minutes before the break they were penalised for pull down at a 22 metre line-out and Roberts put the visitors further ahead but there was still time for the home side to come back.
Luke Arscott broke up the right through to the Moseley 22 before cutting back inside and offloading to skipper Jason Spice who slipped the ball on to Tom Arscott, who scored by the post with Jarvis converting to give Bristol a 10-9 interval lead.
Jarvis increased the Bristol lead five minutes in to the second half with a 45-metre penalty kick from in front of the posts (13-9). Moseley failed to reduce the arrears five minutes later when, after a dangerous tackle by Luke Arscott on Henry Tinder, Roberts long-range penalty attempt went wide.
But Jarvis showed his kicking skills a few minutes later with a 45-metre kick from the left touchline to take Bristol in to a 16-9 lead. Bristol again applied the pressure as the game went in to the final quarter.
But when close to the Moseley line they opted to kick for goal and a fourth penalty from Jarvis that stretched the lead to 19-9 but Roberts was again off target a couple of minutes later from 25 out.
With just a couple of minutes left on the clock Luke Arscott attempted a drop goal from the half way which went wide as did a 40 metre penalty attempt from Jarvis to leave Bristol with a 19-9 win.
Bristol: Luke Arscott; Tom Arscott, Jack Adams, Junior Fatialofa, Dan Norton; Adrian Jarvis, Jason Spice (capt); Mark Irish, David Blaney (Ross Johnston, 55), Darren Crompton (Wayne Thompson, 55), James Phillips, Mariano Sambucetti (Darren Barry, 72), Iain Grieve, Redford Pennycook (James Merriman, 72), Dan Montagu
Reps (not used): Robbie Shaw, Chris Ashwin, Luke Eves
Scorers - try: Tom Arscott; con: Adrian Jarvis; pens: Adrian Jarvis 4.
Moseley: Reece Spee; Rob Thirlby, Henry Trinder (Andy Borgen, 72), Andy Reay (Bryn Keys, ht), Justin Mensah-Coker; Tristan Roberts, Gareth Taylor (Jordi Pasqualin, 78); Terry Sigley (Nathan Williams, 60), Dan Oselton (Adam Caves, 65), Rupert Harden, Ally Muldowney, Richard Stott (Andy Hall, 60), Neil Mason (capt), Chevvy Pennycook (Harry Rowland, 78), James Rodwell.
Scorers - pens: Tristan Roberts 3
Referee: Andrew Small (London)
Att: 5,149[/b]
