in Aintree parlance, Bristol have fallen with two fences to go. Relegation from the Premiership, a shadow over the West Country side since their home defeat to Newcastle seven weeks ago, became reality at the ground where they last dropped to National League One, six years ago.
Bristol were defiant but London Irish don't lose too many games in Reading and they were looking for points themselves, in order to keep in touch with the leaders. Nick Kennedy, the lock who can consider himself harshly dropped by England in the Six Nations, scored two tries to help the Exiles' push for Europe and they could afford the luxury of missing eight kicks at goal.
The sight of Delon Armitage, another Exile to burnish his reputation in an England shirt this season, returning for Irish was probably not what Bristol wanted. Armitage moved to outside-centre and was at the heart of some of Irish's best moves. By the time Adam Thompstone slipped over for his second and Irish's sixth and final try and the scoreline flashed over from Worcester, Bristol were sunk.
Bristol set off at a bit of a gallop but there was never any chance of them repeating their six-try thumping of Worcester last Sunday. They did, though, score the first try when their Kiwi hooker, Scott Linklater, burrowed over at the end of the first quarter. Prior to that, Lee Robinson had twice been halted by desperate defence in the corner.
Irish had not had things their own way, with Chris Hala'Ufia, their Tongan No8, not for the first time in his life being deemed guilty of a high tackle, this time on the visiting scrum-half, Haydn Thomas. Hala'Ufia was banished to the sin-bin by the referee, Nigel Owens.
The departure of Irish's fly-half, Mike Catt, who limped off after only 22 minutes, was a sadder sight. Catt, at 37, is almost twice the age of Irish's young full-back, Tom Homer, and this could be the last we see of the great man on the field.
Homer continued to miss kicks at goal but Irish regained the lead with a sweeping move after half an hour that saw Kennedy dab the ball down. A searing break by Homer moments later almost brought another Exiles try before James Hudson, with equally impressive velocity, gave Steffon Armitage the chance the dive over in the corner.
When Bristol's captain, the splendid Joe El Abd, followed Catt off the field just before the break, it seemed to sum up Bristol's doleful, long winter. By the time Kennedy stretched for his second try, seven minutes into the second half, the visitors were chasing shadows in the spring sunshine.
Bristol refused to throw in the towel, however, and David Lemi intercepted Seilala Mapusua's pass to run half the length of the field for a try seconds after he came on as a substitute. Thompstone, a young wing of rare skill, then nudged Bristol closer to the exit door and gave Irish a bonus point with their fourth try. Thompstone and Paul Hodgson scored further tries for Irish and a late score for Bristol, from Luke Eves, was no consolation at all.
