FORMER LEINSTER PROP Jack O’Connell helped Bristol into the Championship promotion play-offs final, as they earned a 45-19 second-leg semi-final win over Bedford Blues yesterday.
The six-try victory saw Andy Robinson’s Bristol side advance into the final on a commanding 90-35 aggregate score.
The promotion favourites, who have agonisingly lost the last two Championship finals, will now face Doncaster Knights in this year’s two-legged decider, after they overcame Yorkshire Carnegie on a 44–34 aggregate scoreline.
26-year-old loosehead O’Conell, who joined from Leinster in 2014, started both semi-final legs for Bristol after another impressive campaign in the Championship during which he made 17 regular-season starts.
Former Ireland U20 international O’Connell made 14 appearances for Leinster during his time with his home province, but the ex-Clongowes and Lansdowne FC man moved to England two summers ago in search of increased game time.
Also involved for Bristol yesterday was Ireland U20-capped lock Joe Joyce, who was used off the bench in the second half. The 22-year-old second row played for Ireland in the 2014 U20 Six Nations, having previously represented England at U18 and U19 levels.
Both players will now hope to ensure that Bristol finally earn their place in the Premiership after the extensive investment of majority shareholder Steve Lansdown in recent years.
Samoan internationals Jack Lam, Anthony Perenise and David Lemi and Wales-capped fullback Matthew Morgan and lock Ian Evans have played important roles for Bristol this season as they topped the table by 16 points, while Gavin Henson has reeled back the years to impress too.
On the defeated Bedford team yesterday was former Leinster lock Mark Flanagan, who has secured a two-year contract at Saracens beginning next season. The 26-year-old was excellent for the Blues after his move from Mont-de-Marsan in France last summer.
Halfback pairing Michael Heaney and Declan Cusack started again in Doncaster’s play-offs semi-final win against Yorkshire Carnegie. The Knights have enjoyed their best-ever season in reaching the final and the Irish duo have been integral.
The Knights lost yesterday’s second leg 17-14, as Cusack kicked three penalties, but moved into the final on points difference.
An excellent 30-17 victory in the first leg had put Doncaster in control, with former Munster man Cusack kicking three penalties and three conversions in that fixture. Ex-Ulster scrum-half Heaney has been a clever presence in the nine shirt all season.
The first leg of the Championship final takes place on 18 May in Castle Park, before Robinson’s Bristol welcome Doncaster to Ashton Gate for the return tie on 25 May.
O’Connell and co. will feel that the club’s time to move into the Premiership has finally arrived.
- This article was updated at 11.40 to amend an error stating that Doncaster had lost on aggregate.
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