WHILE Keynsham might have deserved some reward for their efforts, North Bristol had only themselves to blame for their lack of progress in the first half.

It was a performance which lacked enthusiasm and fire.

The first minute produced an easy penalty kick for Keynsham’s Paul Edson when North failed to release in a tackle.

Ten minutes later another easy penalty went Edson’s way from a sloppy North offside.

With the scrum under pressure and the backs’ poor handling North made heavy weather of it and another offside at a ruck produced a third goal for Keynsham after 26 minutes.

But within minutes a rare spirited forward exchange produced good ball for Antony Jelf to threaten Keynsham’s defence with a half-break before speedster Mike Lewis finished off with a great run to the corner for a try.

Keynsham consolidated when Edson touched down from Russ Tanner’s chip-ahead and they led 14-5 at the break.

North struck first after the restart when Snow’s penalty divided the posts neatly.

Jelf’s indiscipline reduced him to sin-bin spectator.

Minutes later Keynsham’s pack drove a maul 15 metres before No 8 Jack Weston could crash over in the corner for a try. Edson converted.

After great forward driving play Keynsham got offside and tenacious scrum-half Martin Harrex’s quick tap and dart got him a try.

A super wide conversion produced the extras from Dan Snow and at 21-15 it was all on again.

While Alex Featherstone, Gary Charles and Ross Wilson made strong contributions for North there was little they could do to alter the scoreline.

North Bristol scorers: Tries - Martin Harrex, Mike Lewis; Conversions - Dan Snow; Penalties - Dan Snow

Merit Table North Bristol III 5 Bristol Barbarians II 8

An unhelpful muddy pitch contributed at times to reduce matters to basics but this was never a spectacular game.

The deadlock was broken however after the interval when Howell crashed over for a try following a good lineout on the 22.

Barbarians pressed back and missed two penalty attempts before winning a push-over mauling-try to make it 5-5.

Barbarians missed with a kickable effort after 70 minutes and, just when it seemed a draw was to be accepted, a difficult penalty kick from the touchline settled things in the last seconds of an even contest to give the visitors a narrow win.

North Bristol scorers: Try - Paul Howell.