BRISTOL Sonics produced an impressive second-half performance to overcome St Albans Centurions 34-18 and end their first Conference League Three season on a high.
The win was Bristol's fifth in six outings, a run that has seen them move off the foot of the table and finish three points short of the play-off places.
Bristol Sonics assistant coach Aran Simm said: "We were far from our best, but we did enough to get the win.
"A lot of credit should be given to St Albans, who pushed us all the way and played some smart rugby.
"Given where we were six weeks ago, we've finished off the season in style. It's great to get a few wins under our belt and bodes well for next season."
The visitors had the better of the early exchanges, completing their attacking sets and defending stoutly. Bristol, on the other hand, failed to complete any of their first three sets of six, dropping the ball while trying to attack in their own half.
Bristol were arguably lucky to go into the half-time break 14-12 ahead, thanks to tries from Tom Verber (2) and Mike Norman.
But a purple patch in the second half saw Bristol run away from the opposition.
James Gross, Curtis Asante, Elliot Nightingale and Marcus Brooker scored tries to seal victory for Bristol. Dom Swann was successful with three of his seven conversions for Sonics.
Bristol Sonics: Nightingale, Stuart-Cummins, Schoeman, Gaston, Norman, Swann, Gross, Brooker, McKenna, Asante, Wormhoudt, Sampson, T Verber.
Interchange: M Brooker, Singleton, R Verber, Rainer.
