In spite, rather than because, of the events of the last few days, London Irish recorded only their second league win of the season to move off the bottom of the English Premiership. Justin Bishop, running past a few blazers in the dug-out for the post-match warm-down, shouted, "That one's for Willie man, for Willie."

You could see there was an extra buzz within London Irish ranks, although how to rate the improvement is difficult, given they would almost certainly have won this match anyway. But a stunning try from Niall Woods - their first of the season in a third-quarter of a game, when they usually vanish into their rugby equivalent of the Bermuda triangle - inspired a confident final-quarter flourish to the winning line.

David Humphreys, who enjoyed the luxury of an increasingly superior pack, in which Isaac Feaunati added some serious power and yardage, began to control matters and pegged Bristol back. Unveiling the superb handling of their backs, and their scorching pace out wide, they pulled clear. Some of their back play was outstanding, and it could easily have been much more. As an aside: it will do wonders for the several representative Irish players.

Indeed, the lack of any Irish selector was bizarre. It was a fascinating chance to judge Paul Burke and Adam Larkin against several Irish representative players. Bristol fared well, and Burke's deft distribution launched some clever running rugby in a loose, open and hugely enjoyable game, while Larkin crowned a typically unflashy but effective game with a try.

With the score 11-7 at the break, it looked ominous for a briefly ragged-looking Irish when a Burke penalty and a conversion of Larkin's try hinted at another third-quarter collapse. Whereupon, Conor O'Shea ran 30 yards to take a Paul Hull garryowen in mid-air and make good ground through a forest of blue and white. He then scented Woods' superbly angled support run and hit him with an inside pass on half-way. The pacey Woods galloped clear to score his 10th try of the season, and his conversion brought up his 250th point in 25 games. Why on earth would Ireland be interested in such a talent? Of course not, we're coming down with prolific place-kickers and outstanding finishers.

Better followed. Feaunati made another big charge and the ball was quickly recycled. Humprheys found McCall with a skip pass for Kieron Dawson to loop around and find Woods with an excellent long, flat pass beyond the compass of any other Irish number seven for the winger to put the flying O'Shea through the ensuing hole for his 15th try of the season and fifth in the league. A try from the top drawer.

With confidence at last oozing from every pore, Irish turned the screw for Woods to tack on the points as Bishop scorched exuberantly clear over fully 70 metres from Humphreys' pass after a turnover.

O'Shea commented afterwards: "I said to the guys before coming here that it would be a fitting send off for Willie - he's an outstanding coach - and a perfect welcome for another outstanding coach in Dick Best."

Best, in fairness, struck a suitably modest note: "I had minimal input. It's been a difficult week for them, but that performance has been coming for a while."