Late Robinson try gives Bristol Rugby victory over London Welsh

Lee Robinson's late try got Bristol off to a winning start in the Championship – but Paul Hull's men were given an early warning of how tough it will be to win promotion back to the Guinness Premiership.

Winger Robinson went over with three minutes remaining as Bristol Rugby, who had been in charge for large periods of the match before falling behind to a bizarre Paul Mackey try, made a winning start to the new season.

The hosts overcame some opening-day wobbles – notably at the set-piece and breakdown – to edge out a stubborn London Welsh side who hinted they will challenge strongly for a place in the promotion play-offs.

But despite the opening-day victory, head coach Hull will have plenty to work on ahead of his side's trip to Birmingham & Solihull this weekend.

Bristol, relegated from the Premiership at the end of last season, took an early lead through a Tom Arscott try, before three Aled Thomas penalties gave the visitors a 9-7 advantage as half-time approached.

A brilliant solo run from full-back Arscott set up a debut try for former Gloucester winger Dan Norton seconds before the interval, with Adrian Jarvis' second conversion giving Hull's side a 14-9 lead at the break.

A Jarvis penalty increased Bristol's advantage, only for two Welsh tries – the first scored by Errie Claassens, the second a freak score from Mackey – to give the visitors a 23-17 lead with 13 minutes to play.

But Bristol showed great resolve in the closing stages, with Jarvis landing two penalties to bring his side level as forward replacements David Blaney and Mariano Sambucetti gave the hosts added intensity and urgency.

And it was left to Robinson to provide the final drama, racing in from 20 metres despite a strong hint of a Bristol knock-on in the build-up to seal a winning start to their promotion bid.

Head coach Hull said: "I'm really pleased that, from a position where we could have lost the game after that bizarre second try, we came back, stuck to our guns and then took an opportunity to score and win the game.

"There was good team spirit and a never-give-in attitude, which we'll need this season. We're a brand new team and a lot of those players were playing for the first time at this ground and for the first time in a competitive game for Bristol.

"We came through it, although I wouldn't say unscathed, because we've got lots to work on. But we came through a very, very tough test against a side I think will be there or thereabouts at the end of the season. We're pleased with the win but we've got things to work on."

The impressive Arscott scored Bristol's first points of the new season, thanks to some fine improvisation from fly-half Jarvis and the selflessness of Norton. Jarvis kicked to Norton's wing and the new boy plucked the ball out of the air and passed out of the tackle to the supporting Arscott, who had a simple run-in.

Bristol were having some difficulties at the set-piece, but they continued to create opportunities and were unlucky that Jason Spice's chip to Norton skidded past the winger and into touch after a powerful drive from the forwards.

Thomas chipped away at the Bristol lead, his two penalties making it 7-6, before Norton and Luke Eves chased the same Jarvis grubber and were unfortunate to see the ball fizz over the dead-ball line.

A third successful Thomas penalty gave Welsh a 9-7 lead, but their advantage did not last long thanks to the dangerous Arscott-Norton double act.

Arscott collected the ball inside his own half and somehow slipped past five defenders before shipping the ball to Norton as the cover finally arrived, giving the England Sevens man a routine score.

Jarvis converted and then added a penalty shortly after the break – and Bristol looked well set to win the match from 17-9 up. But they lacked ruthlessness and a clinical edge – perhaps as a result of winning only five times from 31 matches last season – and left the door ajar for Welsh.

Norton was alert in defence to deny Claassens a try, but could do nothing to prevent the winger from scoring Welsh's first try with 54 minutes on the clock. When Thomas converted, the visitors were one point behind at 17-16 down.

And they took the lead on 67 minutes in strange circumstances. Thomas pushed an attempted penalty wide of the target, but Bristol's players switched off as the ball hung in the air and Mackey darted in to collect the loose ball and dive over between the posts.

Hull introduced Sambucetti, Blaney and prop Darren Crompton – and their arrival gave the home pack renewed dynamism. And it was not long before Jarvis landed two penalties in quick succession to ensure the sides went into the final five minutes level at 23-23.

With a draw looking the most likely result, Robinson, who started the attack by running a Welsh kick back into their 22, was in the right place at the right time to race in and seal the victory for his side.

"That second try maybe would have knocked the stuffing out of Bristol Rugby last year – but we showed a lot of character to come back from that and believe we could go on and win it," said Hull.

"We only won two league games last season and there was a lot of pressure on Bristol today. There was a lot of expectation and you could see that in the nerves of the players. So to get through that, with all that pressure, is a good feat for the guys."