Quins pay for a lack of discipline
IT did not take a body-language expert to work out what Paul Gustard was thinking.
By the time Ian Tempest had blown his final whistle, the Harlequins coach was surrounded by empty plastic bottles.
Most had been launched at the ground in frustration — and the rest had been drunk to clear throats that had been cursing his team’s ill discipline.
Gustard threw his arms in the air every couple of minutes and shouted ‘13-6’ — the penalty count — at the end of a third straight defeat at his new club.
Fortunes have been different for Pat Lam and newly promoted Bristol, who have now won both of their games at Ashton Gate.
Quins played through three yellow cards to remain in the hunt, until Aaron Morris knocked on in the final play.
‘We conspired to do daft things and our game management and discipline were poor,’ said Gustard. ‘Discipline was a real handbrake for Harlequins’ performances last year and I have not been able to change that yet.
‘We have to find a way to get out of this rut. We can’t flourish as we have this thing we do to ourselves, which is allow other teams in the game after poor discipline.’
In the swirling wind and rain the visitors raced to an early 10-0 lead.
Bristol overplayed in the slippery weather conditions and Danny Care’s try gave the visitors the lead. But Lam’s side soon discovered the character and composure that should keep them up this season.
Bristol’s Alapati Leiua and Luke Morahan exploited soft defensive edges to make yards down the wide channels, while rookie scrum-half Andy Uren bossed the kicking game.
Steven Luatua oozed All Black class and Will Hurrell smashed holes throughout.
Their discipline improved drastically after a mid-week session with retired referee Tony Spreadbury, while Harry Thacker cut through defenders like Schalk Brits.
‘Harry has some gifts that not many hookers have,’ said Lam. ‘He’s like a pinball.’
Thacker set up Bristol’s only try, scored by Piers O’Conor, before Ian Madigan added 15 points from the boot.
Bristol should have turned their numerical advantage into more points.
Six days after awarding the high-profile red card to Will Spencer, Tempest showed yellow cards to Ben Tapuai for not rolling away, Joe Marler for a forearm smash and Paul Lasike for a late tackle.
But Bristol dropped the ball at critical moments.
‘I’m getting a little bit older and my heart could do without those things,’ said Lam. ‘It’s four valuable points and for us to be two from two at home is something we’re proud of
‘We made a couple of key mistakes whether it’s the lineout, reading the defence, a couple of knock-ons in the red zone. One or two of those can turn the pressure valve off.’