Sale slump to Bristol's Hill
By Rob Lancaster
Last Updated: 18/05/24 1:06am
David Hill kicked Bristol to a 15-9 win over defending champions Sale on Friday night.
Bristol bounced back to winning ways as David Hill enjoyed a home debut to remember in the 15-9 win over Sale.
The fly-half recovered from an embarrassing early effort at goal to boot Bristol to glory and hand the defending champions only their second defeat in 11 league matches.
Wet and windy conditions did not lead to flowing rugby at the Memorial Stadium and the game came down to a battle between the two sets of forwards.
Bristol, showing no ill effects from the previous week's defeat at Newcastle, made an explosive start, although it was Sale who hit the front first.
Daniel Larrechea slotted over a drop goal on the visitors' first real raid into their opponents' territory.
A further penalty midway through the opening half extended their advantage, although that proved to be their final points of the contest.
Hill - who had earlier scuffed his attempt at goal under the bar - was on target with two penalties to level up the scores before the break.
His second kick came after Bristol had blown a great chance to get over the line after David Lemi charged down Jason Robinson's clearing kick.
The World Cup winner made sure his opponent did not get to the loose ball first by pulling him back, an offence which the home fans felt should have resulted with a yellow card and a penalty try.
While Robinson survived, team-mate Chris Jones was not so lucky, getting a trip to the sin bin after a series of penalties against Sale.
The man advantage did not lead to Bristol grabbing a try, leaving Hill to boot them further ahead with a trio of penalty kicks to add to his personal collection.
In contrast, Larrechea was unable to find his range in a strong wind, one attempt at the posts being so poor it barely got off the ground.
That kick summed up Sale's evening and, although the French fly-half set up a tense finish with a late penalty, Bristol held on for a deserved win that leaves them level with Gloucester at the summit.
