Rowntree suffers new injury blow

GRAHAM Rowntree suffered a fitness blow as a much-changed Leicester Tigers’ side suffered a post-Christmas hangover at lowly Bristol. The Burbage-based prop was set to be one of 13 changes that head coach Pat Howard had made to the side that enjoyed a last-minute win in Swansea against the Ospreys. But Howard was forced to bring in Darren Morris when Rowntree was unable to take to the field. Desford's Sam Vesty lined up at full-back but spent the majority of the game defending as Bristol bossed the game in front of a crowd of just under 12,000. All of the home side's points came from the boot of fly-half Jason Strange with the only response from the Tigers coming in the form of a second-half Ross Broadfoot penalty. And it went from bad to worse for Howard when Daryl Gibson was forced off the field in the first half with a dislocated shoulder on his comeback after a six-week absence. He was replaced by former John Cleveland College student Ollie Smith who headed to the right wing but he, like his teammates, had little fortune with ball in hand. Bristol came out on top in all of their personal contests, with former Coventry scrum-half Shaun Perry adding to his growing reputation with a feisty performance. Tigers will be hoping to return to winning ways when Saracens head to Welford Road on Monday January 2. n Luke Myring was another player to suffer a disappointing result, though the former John Cleveland College student did manage to get his name on the scoresheet. Myring, deputising for injured All Black Carlos Spencer, burrowed over for a late consolation try in the Saints' 34-14 loss at table-topping Sale. It was his first try in a Northampton shirt and he will be hoping to follow it up when the Saints host Bristol on New Year's Day.