Bristol Saracens ended the game with 13 players on the pitch as they slipped to a 25-16 home defeat against Old Bristolians in the quarter-finals of the Charles Saunders Combination Vase.

Simmering frustration at a series of unforced errors and an inability to turn territory and possession into points boiled over with fists flying at a ruck late on in this entertaining tie.

And when the dust settled, fly-half Bobby Leach was red- carded and winger David Wright sin-binned, ending Sarries' flickering hopes of a last-four place.

The pair had, ironically, combined magnificently in the first half, Leach's cross-field kick being caught some 60 metres out by Wright who rounded his marker and dashed away in style for a solo score.

But their side were always playing catch-up after being caught cold and conceding two tries in the first five minutes, Bristolians skipper and winger Dan Evans being put over wide on the left by centre Joel Keen, who then burst through the middle for a score of his own, Ed Fowler adding both conversions for a 14-point lead.

Wright's unconverted try and two Leach penalties pulled Sarries to within three points only for the home side to suffer a real killer blow in the final seconds of the half, Bristolians winning a turnover 20 metres out and moving possession right for centre Rhys Jones to touch down against the run of play, Fowler just missing the conversion.

Replacement scrum-half Dan Scroggs claimed a try as Sarries, with most of the momentum at this stage, shunted the visitors back at a five-metre scrum on the hour to make it 19-16.

But Bristolians, positive and enterprising throughout, bounced back immediately with a 45-metre Fowler penalty.

Another successful kick by the full-back, soon after the home side's discipline slipped, wrapped up the scoring.

Bristolians will now be at home to St Bernadette's in the semi-finals, while Old Colstonians will entertain Bishopston in the other match.