Lemi leads Bristol to win
Bristol 36 Northampton 28
Bristol winger David Lemi produced a stunning 40-minute performance to drag his side to an exciting European Challenge Cup victory over Northampton Saints at the Memorial Stadium.
With the home side trailing 7-6 at half-time, the Samoan international bagged two tries in quick succession, and kicked three goals to keep Bristol’s nose in front before sealing a 36-28 victory with an injury-time penalty goal.
The omens were against Bristol before the game even kicked off, with fly-half Jason Strange injuring himself in the warm-up and being replaced in the starting line-up by Danny Gray.
Gray opened the scoring with two penalty goals, before former All Black outside-half Carlos Spencer scored a typically inventive try.
Fellow Kiwi Bruce Reihana added the extras and Saints took a 7-6 lead into the break, despite losing another New Zealander, backrower Sam Harding, to the sin-bin for a professional foul.
The third quarter was all Bristol. Scrum-half Jake Rauluni scored in the opening exchanges, with veteran Wales international Gareth Llewellyn rumbling over between Lemi’s double.
The Saints hit back with tries to Spencer, Reihana and replacement centre Rhodri Davies, but Lemi had the final say to cement an impressive eight-point victory.
Newcastle Falcons and England star Jonny Wilkinson kicked 16 points in his side’s 26-11 victory in front of 4,000 fans at Border Reivers’ Netherdale ground.
Young utility back Toby Flood scored the only try of the first half, with Wilkinson adding four goals to give the Falcons a match-winning 16-3 lead at the break
Front-rowers Matt Thompso (Falcons) and Paul Thomson (Borders) exchanged tries in the thrd quarter, with Wilkinson continuing his comeback from injury with two more goals.
