Stade stay strong

Stade Francaise put themselves right back in the picture for Heineken Cup qualification with a 19-11 victory over Bristol on Friday night.

Conditions were difficult at a wet and blustery Stade Jean Boiun but, despite plenty of missed chances and missed kicks by the French side, the hosts still ran out deserved winners.

Stade were the better side throughout but failed to take advantage of their possession and territory, meaning Bristol also stayed in with a shout right until the closing minutes.

David Skrela's three kicks to Jason Strange's one gave the French side a 9-3 advantage at half time, but they finally caught alight in the 54th minute with a fine Ignacio Corleto try.

Bristol responded with Tom Arscott crossing the line but Julien Arias' score 12 minutes from time effectively sealed the victory.

Windy weather

Skrela defied the sweeping wind by kicking Stade ahead in the third minute, but his kick was cancelled out by Strange who brought Bristol level ten minutes later.

Bristol's gameplan was obvious as they tried to stifle the French side in the opening half, with the Guinness Premiership side fighting into the wind.

Skrela did manage to add two more penalties on 26 and 40 minutes but Stade were unable to get over the line as Bristol stood firm.

Stade Francais came out firing after the interval and some dangerous running saw them camped out on the Bristol line, eventually forcing the penalty.

Skrela opted to go for the kick but, with the wind swirling, he missed what normally would have been a sitter for him and the score stayed at 9-3.

Within a minute Bristol had gone down the other end of the field and forced a penalty of their own, which Strange planted between the posts for 9-6.

The hosts hit back on 54 minutes though with a fine sweeping move from left to right seeing Skrela pass out wide to Corleto who muscled his way over the line for 14-6.

Fighting spirit

Bristol were not beaten yet though and scrum-half Brian O'Riordan produced a fine break and run five minutes later and his long pass, spun out to right wing, found Luke Arscott who slipped in his brother Tom for the try in the corner.

Bristol were now just three points behind, but Stade managed to produce another fine running move and Arias dived over the line 12 minutes from time to make it 19-11.

With the result now sealed, Bristol still had a late chance to capitalise on a needless penalty to claim a losing bonus point they deserved, but Strange missed his attempt right on the final whistle.

Stade now move a point above Bristol into second place in a fascinating Pool Three, three points behind Cardiff who face Bristol next week, while Stade face bottom side Harlequins.