North Bristol up and running

North Bristol had special reasons to celebrate their midweek home victory over Barton Hill in the first round of the RFU Intermediate Cup.

Joel Phillips booted five penalties to help clinch a 15-13 win, which represented the club's first senior success of the season after both the first and second teams had lost all five of their opening games.

Richard Vivian was a relieved – and hoarse – head coach at the final whistle. He said: "Hopefully, this will be a big changing point, as things haven't gone our way so far.

"The effort's definitely been there and we've been very close, losing a couple by only a few points. We've been putting together some good stuff, but sometimes it's been a bit naive, playing in the wrong area of the pitch.

"Now we're up and running ... but we need to start earning some points in the league."

Phillips will clearly be a key man for North this season. The left-footed centre put the boot into Barts, landing his first five shots at goal from a testing range of angles and distances.

But Vivian was also pleased with the debut of scrum-half Phil Sterry and the return from injury of centre Jamie Walters, pictured above, and flanker Rob Collins.

North will now be away to Berry Hill or Old Centralians in the Gloucestershire area semi-finals on November 21.

Barton Hill, meanwhile, will be aiming to bounce straight back from this setback and make it six from six in Western Counties North when they entertain Hornets tomorrow.

They outscored North two tries to nil, with full-back Ioannis Yiasoumi and scrum-half Matt Rankin touching down, while 17-year-old fly-half Jack Steer – lining up with brothers Sam and Bob, in the back and front rows, respectively – added a penalty in this close encounter.