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Rugby Union

Bristol see off French champions

18/11/2007

Bristol ground out a 17-0 win over French champions Stade Francais in the Heineken Cup at the Memorial Ground.

The home side were guided by a late try from James Brew and four penalties from David Hill.

David Lemi, Luke Arscott and Neil Brew returned for Bristol while skipper Matt Salter and Nathan Budgett missed the game through injury.

In a tight first half, Bristol took the lead when Hill booted over a penalty. Sergio Parisse then limped off with an injury to his right ankle.

Hill slotted over his second penalty to give the Guinness Premiership side a 6-0 lead at the break.

Stade Francois wasted a golden opportunity to get off the mark when fly-half David Skrela put a 25-yard penalty wide on 50 minutes.

Hill kicked over his third penalty on the hour mark to stretch Bristol's lead.

With eight minutes to go Hill's attempted drop-goal was charged down by Jerome Fillol but just when it looked like Stade Francais could breakaway and score a try, Fillol knocked on.

After Hill had slotted over his fourth penalty, Bristol sealed victory in the dying minutes. Liebenberg's pass was intercepted on the halfway line and Brew and Rob Higgitt ran to the tryline together.