Bristol lifted themselves up the Zurich Premiership table with their second victory of the season, a 34-29 triumph over Leeds Tykes.

But it was Leeds who dominated the second half, scoring three tries to earn themselves two bonus points.

After last weekend's open criticism of match referee Tim Miller's inability to control the game, Bristol coach Dean Ryan added in his column in the programme that he hoped that Irish referee Donal Courtney "had a good night's sleep and is well rested and fully fit for the match".

Bristol had to make a late change in the second row when former England lock Garath Archer pulled out of the starting line-up due to a back injury.

Andrew Sheridan was promoted off the bench with recent Australian signing Mike Lipman added to the bench.

Leeds gave debuts to Argentinian international wing Octavio Bartolucci, Australian born fly-half Daniel Parks and former Bristol prop Kris Fullman while former Scotland centre Jamie Mayer was also making a return to the Memorial Stadium.

Argentinian international fly-half Felipe Contepomi marked his return to the Bristol starting line-up by landing three penalties in the opening 20 minutes to one from his opposite number Parks, who also missed one from 22 metres out.

Contepomi then tidied up a poor pass from his half partner Agustin Pichot to wing Spencer Brown, picking up to score in the corner but missing with his touchline conversion attempt.

Leeds were reduced to 14 men after 17 minutes when their Samoan international number eight Isaac Feaunati was sent to the sin-bin for killing the ball when Bristol were pressing the Leeds line.

Centre Philip Christophers, a summer signing from Brive, made his second break of the game but this time he was rewarded with his first league try for the club after a 40-metre dash, stepping out of four tackles.

Contepomi added the conversion and took an outside pass from skipper Jason Little to break down the right touchline and score his second try, which he converted.

But on the stroke of half-time Leeds ran a series of penalties close to the line and lock Chris Murphy scored under the posts with Parks converting but the visitors trailed 28-10 at the interval.

Bristol, searching for a four-try bonus point, went off the boil after the break and their only score was Contepomi landing his fourth penalty.

Going into the final quarter former Scotland flanker Cameron Mather broke from the side of a scrum to score Leeds' second try, converted by Parks.

Leeds were now playing the better rugby and scored their third try 10 minutes from time when Parks gave a long pass out wide to full back Jon Benson, who scored in the right corner.

Going into the final minutes replacement wing Dan Scarbrough made a 40-metre break for the line to earn the visitors a try-scoring bonus and another for a losing margin of less than seven points.

Bristol, with time running out, decided to forego the bonus point as Contepomi landed his fifth penalty of the game on the stroke of full-time.

Teams:

Bristol: Johnstone, McCarthy, White, Sheridan, A. Brown, Salter, Short, Sturnham, Pichot, Contepomi, S. Brown, Little, Christophers, Rees, Carrington.

Replacements: Brownrigg for Sheridan (55), Best for S. Brown (69).

Not Used: Nelson, Crompton, Lipman, Blake, Drahm.

Tries: Contepomi 2, Christophers.

Cons: Contepomi 2. Pens: Contepomi 5.

Leeds: Shelley, Rawlinson, Fullman, C. Murphy, Palmer, Hogg, Mather, Fea'unati, Benton, Parks, Emmerson, Woof, Mayer, Bartolucci, Benson.

Replacements: Holt for Rawlinson (57), Clarke for C. Murphy (58), Jones for Fea'unati (58), O'Reilly for Benton (74), Scarborough for Emmerson (41). Not Used: O'Keefe, Davies.

Tries: C. Murphy, Mather, Benson, Scarborough.

Cons: Parks 3.

Pens: Parks.

Att: 3,646

Ref: D Courtney (Ireland).