Lam: Job done but far too many errors
BRISTOL kept their play-off bid on track with a bonus-point win over Leicester.
Their six-try victory moved them level on points with fourth-placed Sale going into today’s final round of matches.
Ioan Lloyd, Nathan Hughes and Bryan Byrne all crossed before the break with Dan Thomas securing the bonus point for Bears early in the second half.
Harry Thacker added a fifth, with a penalty try completing the rout.
Bristol head coach Pal Lam said: “It’s job done in the sense of the five points. A good outcome and there were some good performances here and there.
“But ultimately, I’m not completely satisfied in terms of we could’ve been a lot better. We talked about being ruthless in this game, at times we were, but a lot of times we weren’t.
“We had balls turned over and I think nine balls lost in contact and five dropped passes. You can’t control the tempo of the game when it’s stop-start and it’s us making those errors.”
The result means only two points separate the four sides placed second to fifth in the Premiership.
Fifth-placed Bristol will need to better the results of at least one of Bath, Wasps and Sale to book their place in the semi-finals.
The European Challenge Cup finalists will travel to London Irish, while Sale host Worcester, Bath travel to Saracens and Wasps entertain leaders Exeter.
Welsh full-back Lloyd sold the Tigers back line a neat dummy from Callum Sheedy’s pass for the first try after 17 minutes.
No.8 Hughes added the second after picking up at the back of a scrum and charging over from close range, while hooker Byrne capitalised shortly after Ben White was sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on.
Tigers hit back after the break with back row Thomas scoring from a lineout catch-and-drive - before former Tiger Thacker touched down.
Harry Simmons was yellow carded in additional time as his knock-on denied Niyi Adeolokun a score in the corner and referee Craig Maxwell-Keys awarded a penalty try.
Leicester’s defeat means they have gone winless on the road in the Premiership this season.
Bristol prop Max Lahiff hobbled off with a calf injury after replacing Kyle Sinckler which will be a concern for Lam.
Leicester director of rugby Geordan Murphy said: “At 7-3, the game was right where we wanted it 25 minutes in, but we gave a penalty away straight from the kick-off. They kicked to the corner and we found ourselves 14-3 down and against a side like Bristol, it’s a challenge and difficult to create anything.
“It’s was always going to be difficult to chase a team in these conditions and Bristol punished us every time we made a mistake.
“There were some positives out there and some great defensive sets, but the rolling maul is a difficult thing to stop and we need to tighten up our discipline.”