Bristol stay top but Lam knows work to be done
TOM Varndell scored a hat-trick as Bristol ran in seven tries against London Scottish to stay clear at the top.
Alapati Leiua, Will Hurrell and Rhodri Williams also touched down and they were awarded a penalty try. Ireland international Ian Madigan scored ten points with the boot.
However they also let struggling Exiles get in for four tries of their own to earn a bonus point in defeat.
Head coach Pat Lam said: “We got the five points and when we stay in our system we look good. When we come out of that system in defence we look pretty average. We know we can be better and just need to take the learnings from that one.
“There were lots of tries and some of it was quality stuff. But we’re disappointed to let a side come here and score four tries. Credit to London Scottish – they really came at us.”
Bristol got off to the perfect start with Varndell racing in from 40 metres. A penalty try followed soon after when a rolling maul was illegally brought down.
Seemingly cruising, Exiles hit back as Craig Holland collected a chip ahead to touch down. But Bristol hit back immediately with Leiua slipping a tackle to stroll in.
Yet again Exiles showed their character to come back immediately, this time off first phase ball. Neat hands found Ross Neal who finished the move for 21-14.
Bristol came out fired up in the second half and Varndell raced in for his second from an intercept.
If that one was a piece of oppportunism from Varndell, the next was all about the class of Madigan. First the fly-half found All Black Steven Luatua with an inch perfect crossfield kick and then, when the ball was recycled, he chipped it over the defence for Varndell to gather and complete his hat-trick.
Hurrell then scored a remarkable try of his own, taking the ball from Leiua and cutting back on the angle to burst through two would-be tacklers to score.
Exiles kept coming, however, and got their reward with ten minutes remaining when Nick Scott scored in the corner.
Just minutes after coming off the bench Rhodri Williams cruised over to complete the Bristol try-scoring.
Yet again, though, their defence was found wanting in the final stages as Gregor Gillanders scored to earn Exiles the bonus.