Richard Hill was left to rue Bristol’s bad luck after they slipped to their seventh Guinness Premiership defeat of the season at the Memorial Stadium.

Bristol were leading 13-11 with 13 minutes left but former Colston’s School pupil Shane Geraghty claimed an interception try to take London Irish top of the English elite with an 18-13 win.

The home side had looked well in control of the second half following a try from centre Luke Eves and a conversion and two penalties from fly-half Ed Barnes.

“Sometimes you have to wonder what you have to do to win a game. Lady Luck is probably not on our side, although we are slightly responsible,” said Bristol head coach Hill.

“We will keep battling away and hopefully we can get those little narrow wins that we need.

“Normally I say the better team won but on this occasion we deserved to win.

“I feel very sorry for the players. They put a lot of effort into that second half in particular.

“We had it well under control and the only time that Irish got the ball was when we gave it to them on a plate.

“It was one of those things and it happens. It was our own fault. We are bitterly disappointed.”

Bristol lost second row Roy Winters with a rib injury and – even though he was likely to be rested for the back-to-back European Challenge Cup matches with Northampton – he will be sidelined for at least a fortnight.

Although he feels the battle to beat the drop is between Bristol and Newcastle, Hill admits the Saints could be dragged into the relegation dogfight.

He added: “At least we have got a point. In my mini-league table, I can write we got a point at home to London Irish. Newcastle didn’t claim any points against Irish.

“We have just got to keep picking up points where they don’t. At the moment, our noses are just about in front.

“We can get out of this. The team has to stay tight. I think we are playing better than Newcastle at the moment.

“Northampton could be dragged in. They are not out of it yet. We are still in November.

“There’s a long way to go, as we know. Sides could have a bad patch and lose four, five or six on the trot.

Hill revealed he will throw his fringe players into the two European clashes before the Christmas period matches with Worcester, Gloucester and Northampton.  Bristol visit Franklin’s Gardens on Saturday.

The Bristol boss added:  “We will keep our powder dry for the next two matches. Northampton have to go full pelt for the quarter-final spot. They will put their full side out.

“We will give it another blast for the Christmas games. We won’t be concentrating too much on the European Challenge Cup. We cannot afford to.”