Bristol’s Lam needs big win on return to Sportsground
BRISTOL’S hopes of Champions Cup knockout rugby are hanging by a thread after Pat Lam’s side were overpowered by the rampaging four-try Bulls yesterday.
Lam will now need his current side to go up the gears against his former employers Connacht if they are going to progress.
Johan Goosen’s penalty opened the scoring and Sergeal Petersen’s converted try gave the Bulls their half-time advantage, with Bristol still in touch through Kieran Marmion’s try.
But up front, Bristol were in deep trouble. Missing their England props Ellis Genge and Kyle Sinckler, the
Bears’ scrum was crushed under South African power.
Early in the second half, they were reduced to 13 men with prop Max Lahiff in the bin, the starting tighthead George Kloska injured and the game forced into uncontested scrums.
In the second half, the Bulls powered on, as prop Khutha Mchunu, flanker Elrigh Louw and hooker Jan-Hendrik Wessels all crossed. With the bonus point in the bag for the Bulls, Bristol scored consolation tries through Gabriel Ibitoye and Magnus Bradbury.
Bristol now need to win well at the Sportsground on Friday night and still hope other results go their way to make it into the last 16.
Henry Slade came to the rescue for Exeter Chiefs – not for the first time this season – in their clash with Glasgow. The England international stepped into the spotlight with just minutes remaining to deliver a match-winning blow that sent his side into the last 16 with a so-far unblemished record.
Slade’s conversion to Zack Wimbush’s late try was enough to assure the Chiefs of a third win in as many games, while downing visiting Glasgow who, until that point, had led what was a war of attrition.
Even then, the stubborn Scotsmen could have snatched it at the death. Euan Ferrie powered over with the clock in the red, only for the score to be chalked off by French referee Pierre Brousset after the flanker had strayed offside.
In South Africa, Sale coach Alex Sanderson’s gamble on nine changes for the trip to face Stormers backfired as his side slumped to a 31-24 defeat in Cape Town.
And Harlequins ran in eight tries in their 54-15 victory over Cardiff at the Arms Park last night.