Leach sucks the life out of Whitehall in Vase tie

Bobby Leach made a dramatic first senior appearance of the season for Bristol Saracens, landing two penalties and running the show from fly-half to secure an 11-8 win at Whitehall in the RFU Senior Vase.

Winger David Wright dashed over wide out before the break for what proved to be his side's only try as the visitors turned around 11 points clear.

Whitehall battled back, with fly-half Dean Weaver landing a penalty and winger Luke Colton claiming a try.

But despite the home side dominating the final stages of the game and putting the pressure on with a series of five-metre line-outs, a lack of composure at key moments proved costly as Sarries held on to book a Gloucestershire area final on January 2 against high-flying league rivals Cirencester before the competition goes national.

Bishopston overcame Painswick for the second time this season to clinch a Gloucestershire area Junior Vase final against Bream.

The home side, playing into the wind, lost lock Simon Burgell through injury after 15 minutes but still managed to take the lead, with a Jon Martin penalty. A penalty try, after a 20-metre rolling maul was collapsed just short of the line, stretched the advantage, and Martin added the conversion.

That sparked Painswick to retaliate with a try and two penalties to take an 11-10 lead at the break, but Bish battled to adjust to the changing conditions and reclaimed the lead in decisive style.

Martin's hack through, chased effectively by winger James Oakley, put the Painswick back three under pressure and skipper Matt Screen sprinted through to touch down for a vital try.

Bish had hooker Kevin Pickles sin-binned for an offside tackle midway through the half, but they survived to book a final against Bream, who edged out Brockworth 10-5.

North Bristol went out of the Intermediate Cup, going down 21-3 to Berry Hill, who now face Drybrook.