Rugby Union: Hero Hodgson

PAUL Hodgson condemned his former club Bristol to their second- successive Guinness Premiership defeat.

The London Irish scrum-half's try double proved the difference between two committed sides.

And with his half-back partner Barry Everitt booting 14 points, Irish ended a run of six home league defeats stretching back ten months.

Bristol made them sweat profusely though, especially when Samoa wing Brian Lima powered over for a try eight minutes from time.

Fly-half Jason Strange's conversion - he finished with 17 points - kept up the pressure, but the Welshman's missed 48m penalty deep into injury time enabled Irish to hold on.

Irish made two changes after their defeat against Sale Sharks last time out, with prop Rob Hardwick and lock Bob Casey both called up.

Australian rugby league centre Paul Franze featured among the replacements following his arrival from Penrith Panthers.

Bristol included Fijian scrum-half Jacob Rauluni for his league debut, with lock Gareth Llewellyn fit again and Lima switched into midfield alongside Manu Contepomi. Lima, nicknamed The Chiropractor for his tough tackling, needed only 14 minutes to leave a mark.

Exiles wing Scott Staniforth finished second-best following a collision between the pair. Although he tried to continue, Staniforth's departure meant a midfield reshuffle, with centre Rodd Penney moving wide and replacement centre James Storey joining the action. Irish were 6-3 down as Staniforth departed, courtesy of Strange's penalty double, but Everitt quickly tied things up when he added a drop-goal to an earlier penalty.

On 28 minutes Irish skipper Mike Catt rifled out a long pass inside his 22, and Irish finished off a superb 80m move, with No.8 Phil Murphy and wing Justin Bishop combining cleverly before Hodgson sprinted clear.

Five minutes later Hodgson capitalised on lazy defensive work to gather his own kick and touch down unopposed.

Everitt's conversion increased the lead to 18-6.

Strange completed his penalty hat-trick, but Everitt ended the half by landing a 40m penalty and restoring a 12-point advantage.

A fourth Strange penalty narrowed the gap before Exiles back-row star Olivier Magne was sin-binned for elbowing Contepomi.

Irish were fortunate to escape further sanctions when Bristol skipper Matt Salter was tipped out of a lineout, but Strange's fifth penalty further cut the deficit.

Bristol's resilience posed Irish problems. Everitt's third penalty though, a superb 50m effort, gave Irish breathing space, until Lima struck and ensured a fraught few closing moments.

LONDON IRISH Tries: Hodgson 2. Cons: Everitt. Pens: Everitt 3. Drop Goals: Everitt.

BRISTOL Tries: Lima. Cons: Strange. Pens: Strange 5.

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