Gloucs’ effort satisfies boss Bell

IN HIS first match in charge of Gloucester, following the departure of Laurie Fisher, head coach Jonny Bell, said: “We showed a huge amount of character and the leaders in the group have been fantastic and supportive in the last two weeks.

“It wasn’t pretty at times and there were a lot of inaccuracies, which will need rectifying but we dug deep and took our chances.

“We didn’t have enough ball in the first half and had to soak up a lot of pressure but we rolled our sleeves up to defend very well.

“The next four or five weeks is a mini-season for us. Cardiff next week in the Challenge Cup is a massive game.”

Bristol flanker Sam Jeffries was his side’s best player on his Premiership debut for the club.

He said: “It’s disappointing as we put in a lot of effort but we were beaten by a more clinical team in that second half.

“We had so much possession and territory but we just couldn’t finish it off. We’ve got to keep fighting but we have a real job on our hands.”

TEAMS

BRISTOL: Woodward 6, Wallace 5, Hurrell 7, Pisi 6 (Tovey 34, 6), Lemi 6 (Arscott 40, 6), Searle 6, Mathewson 5 (Williams 71, 6), Bevington 6 (O’Connell 69, 6), Jones(c) 6 (Crumpton 63, 6), Cortes 7 (Jamal-Robinson 56, 6), Phillips 6 (Crane 71, 6), Sorenson, 6 (Fenton-Wells 59, 6) Jeffries 7, Lam 6, Eadie 6

GLOUCESTER:

Marshall 6, May 6, Trinder 6, Symons 5 (Twelvetrees 31, 6), Halaifonua 5 (Sharples 33, 6), Burns 7, Heinz(c) 7, McAllister 6 (Thomas 56, 6), Hibbard 8 (Matu’u 76, 6), Hohneck 5 (Doran-Jones 56, 6), Savage 6, Thrush 7 (Denton 72, 6), Kalamafoni 5 (Ludlow 53, 6), Morgan 6, Rowan 6

Not used: Braley

REFEREE: JP Doyle

ATTENDANCE: 14,510

Star man

Richard Hibbard – Gloucester