No rabbits this week! Bristol lose 7-12

Bristol Rugby have had an enviable habit of pulling the proverbial rabbit out of the hat this season and winning tight games, but that habit deserted them against London Irish at the Memorial Stadium on Satuday.

It all looked promising at half time as Bristol turned around with a 7-6 lead and the prospect of playing with a strong wind at their backs in the second half.

But Bristol did everything but score in a frenetic assault on the Exiles' line. Jason Strange was halted inches from the line when he looked odds on to score. Bristol then did actually cross the Irish line twice without being able to persuade referee Tony Spreadbury to award the score.

Hostile reception

Spreadbury then guaranteed himself a hostile reception by calling back David Lemi for a forward pass when the Samoan looked set to score in the final couple of minutes.

So Bristol slip to their third successive defeat and their bad luck refused to let up as scrum half Brian O'Riordan popped a shoulder clearing out a ruck.

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