Hornets open with a victory

HORNETS opened their league account in spirited fashion as they started life in the Tribute Western Counties North division with a bonus point win.

North Bristol took an early lead through two penalty goals before Sam Lloyd-Jones converted to narrow the gap to three points. However, shortly before half time the visitors extended the lead with another penalty.

The second period started in similar fashion with Hornets on the defence and the pressure soon claimed a victim when Matt Cornish was shown a yellow card. This was soon followed by a North Bristol try that was converted.

Hornets then worked their way upfield and their forwards drove over the line for Neil Chenoweth to claim the spoils. Lloyd-Jones converted to make the score 10-16 in the Bristol side’s favour.

The superior fitness of the home team began to show and it wasn’t long before they took the lead through a try from Phil Hogarth who smashed his way over, Lloyd-Jones again converted.

New recruit Kirk Middlemiss got his name onto the score sheet with a fine try that Lloyd-Jones also converted. The the visitors had no answers as Middlemiss again crossed in the dying minutes to claim the bonus point and a well-earned victory.

It was a fine start to a new season in what will undoubtedly be a more challenging league. On Saturday, the 1st XV are on the road to Gloucester where they play Gordon League.

? The 3rd XV travelled to Old Sulians in Bath and conceded an early try. Hornets responded quickly with a try for scrum-half Mark Sheppard.

The home side replied with two more tries before Mark Millman crashed over. Sulians moved the ball wide and fast to score another four converted tried before the break.

After the break, Sean Steadman crossed for a try, converted by Paul Sheppard. Sulians replied with another try before Mark Sheppard scored again. Sulians responded by scoring their last try of the game, but it was the Hornets who had the final say when man of the match James Gould crashed over the line.