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text-decoration:none; } img {border:none;} The Sport Review: “Bristol
Rugby prepare final promotion push” plus 1 moreBristol Rugby prepare final promotion push Posted: 23 Apr 2010 07:36 AM PDT Following the disappointment of relegation last year after having spent four seasons in the Guinness Premiership, Bristol are looking to make an immediate return and are now tantalisingly close. They have had an impressive season so far, finishing top of the League having lost only three games. Exeter Chiefs were their closest challengers finishing four points behind in second. This year the RFU has introduced a new format to the Championship (formerly National One). After the regular season the top eight teams were split into two promotion Pools: A and B, meanwhile the bottom four into another one: Pool C. The RFU has also pledged more funding for the Championship, news which has been well received. According to RFU Management Board Chairman Martyn Thomas, "for too long First Division Rugby has hovered between the community game and the Premiership, uncertain of both its standing in the structure and its future. Now is the time to establish its rightful place." This increase in funding and extra television coverage on Sky Sports has undoubtedly given the division a fresh take and certainly makes the season finale an incredibly exciting one. Bristol currently lead Pool A with one game left against the Cornish Pirates on Saturday 1 May and will surely finish top. Bristol have more or less blown away opposition teams this season with some good attacking rugby. They suffered narrow defeats on the road to Doncaster and Moseley whilst their only loss at home came at the hands of Exeter. They did avenge this defeat by beating their West Country rivals 16-25 when they travelled down the M5 to Sandy Park. Back in October they thumped Coventry 46-28 and ran in eight tries. Tom Arscott scored a hat trick for a rampant Bristol in what was also the first Championship game to be broadcast live on Sky Sports. Other impressive victories, notably 42-7 against Doncaster, have kept the Bristol faithful flocking to the Memorial Ground — home also to Bristol Rovers. The highest attendance so far came against another West Country rival- the Cornish Pirates — almost 8,000 packed out the stadium in January. Bristol have recorded a 15 match unbeaten run this season — the best for the club since the game turned professional. They are also indebted to their fly half Adrian Jarvis who has kicked 232 points and scored two tries this season. Head Coach Paul Hull insists his side have still got a lot more to offer in the play-offs and having just beaten Bedford they are on course to make it to the semis where they will most likely face London Welsh or Nottingham. A place in the two-leg final is beckoning and one can see that this city badly craves a Premiership team — just as it does in football. Buses and billboards around Bristol are awash with the slogan 'C'mon Bris' 'The Big Push'. - Rugby Union: Top 14 Review — Biarritz reign in Spain - Six Nations Rugby: French slam à l'Anglaise - Six Nations: France look to overcome their bête noire Benítez confident Liverpool will reach Europa final Posted: 23 Apr 2010 02:42 AM PDT Rafael Benítez is confident Liverpool will overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit against Atlético Madrid at Anfield next week to reach the UEFA Europa League final. The Liverpool boss emphasised the part the Anfield crowd can play in helping his side reach the final in Hamburg on May 12. "The second leg is at Anfield and I am confident,” said Benítez after Thursday’s defeat. “Anfield is massive and with the fans behind us we can beat anyone.” The reliance on the twelfth man is a common theme in the Benítez era as all too often his team have revealed a soft underbelly away from home. Atlético Madrid had edged to a slender lead at the Vicente Calderón Stadium after Diego Forlan renewed his old rivalry against the Premier League club. Forlan, despite mistiming his original header, managed to poke an early strike past Pepe Reina at the second attempt, Jamie Carragher’s desperate lunge unable to prevent the goal. But Benítez’s side reacted well and probed the Atlético rearguard. Skipper Steven Gerrard had the opportunity to level matters just ten minutes later following a typical burst past the last line of defence, but on his weaker left foot the England midfielder blasted his effort into the side netting. In midfield the English club looked assured and enjoyed spells of dominance. Javier Mascherano and Lucas Leiva snuffed out the majority of threatening Atlético counter attacks. In attack, however, Liverpool were limp and bereft of creativity. David N’Gog showed an accomplished first touch but lacked the strength and experience that the sidelined Fernando Torres would have inevitably brought to the starting line-up. The young French striker was replaced by Ryan Babel in the second half with Dirk Kuyt shuffled to centre forward. Frustration began to build as the away side pieced together promising moves but were guilty of failing to release the ball at the appropriate time, Babel and Kuyt the two most culpable here. Atlético could, and should, have extended their lead. Simao Sabrosa forced a world-class save from Reina while Forlan fumbled an opportunity to test the Spanish goalkeeper. Yet the Atlético boss, Quique Flores, appeared to be content with the narrow advantage which they will now aim to defend at Anfield, boosted by the return of Sergio Agüero. "It was an intense game, very tiring,” said Flores. “A second goal would have completed the match but we can’t complain.” “One-nil is a good result, the dressing room is optimistic but we know the game will be decided in the second leg.” Benítez, meanwhile, singled out Liverpool’s experience of similar situations as a potential saving grace. “We’ve been in the situation before and we’ve found we can win, so hopefully it will be the same again,” he said. - Alberto Aquilani adds extra flair to the Liverpool midfield - Albert Riera launches scathing attack on Benítez - Torres: Liverpool need to bring in ‘quality players’ You are subscribed to email updates from The Sport Review To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. 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