Lam hails an ‘absolutely massive’ win for Bears
NEWCASTLE BRISTOL 17 34
BRISTOL Bears rugby director Pat Lam was delighted with the way his Premiership tabletoppers fought back from a slow start to claim a bonus-point victory away to Newcastle Falcons.
The Bears trailed 10-0 coming up to the half-hour mark at Kingston Park, but three late first-half tries turned the game on its head.
Two more came after the interval as Bristol retained their 12-point advantage at the summit going into next weekend’s clash with secondplaced Exeter Chiefs.
“We blew an opportunity at the beginning and wanted to start well,” Lam said. “It’s not easy to come up here. We had an early opportunity to score but didn’t take it.
“We gave away a lot of penalties, but to come up here and get five points in the context of this season is absolutely massive.
“The first 20 minutes wasn’t what we are about and we lost a little bit of focus. After that, we showed what we can do when we have our systems in place and understand the patterns that we have.”
Lam reserved particular praise for Max Malins, the Saracens loanee who scored a try in each half to help set the Bears on their way.
Ben Earl, also borrowed from the capital outfit, went over for Bristol’s fifth score following earlier efforts from Jake Heenan and Luke Morahan.
“Max (Malins) has a license to play at full-back as he fits so well into our system,” Lam said.
“Some of our players will only get to play 50 per cent of the season, so to see them in a game like this today makes it really difficult as a coach.
We then have different players who are in on loan and really want to make an impact.”
Lam’s opposite number Dean Richards offered no excuses for the Falcons’ fifth-straight Premiership defeat.
Michael Young’s try broke the deadlock but the hosts could not find their next score until Kyle Cooper crashed over in the dying minutes, leaving Richards ruing his side’s carelessness in possession.
“We weathered an early storm and found ourselves ahead, but the three tries just before half-time were critical,” he said. “It’s the manner in which we conceded them that is the problem. We could have been in control in the tempo of the game, but the ball was turned over too much – you can’t afford to do that against a side like Bristol.
“We know our skill set wasn’t good enough. The accuracy of phases wasn’t there, theirs was far better and we have been punished.
“When we get things right, we look like a top team, but there are certain things that we aren’t able to do right consistently.
“It’s a very tight line between what we are doing well and what we need to work on.”
Newcastle: Penny; Vuna, Wacokecoke, Lucock, Stevenson; Flood, Young; Davison, McGuigan, Mulipola, Peterson, Robinson, Welch, Wilson, Chick. Replacements: B Connon for Vuna (54), Schreuder for Young (48), Blamire for McGuigan (63), Ah You for Mulipola (63), Fuser for Peterson (63), Van Der Walt for Welch (48). Not Used: Cooper, Graham.
Scorers – Tries: Young, Cooper. Cons: Flood 2. Pens: Flood.
Bristol: Malins; Morahan, O’Connor, S Piutau, Adeolokun; Sheedy, Uren; Y Thomas, Capon, Afoa, Vui, Joyce, Harding, Earl, Heenan. Replacements: Kessell for Uren (73), Woolmore for Y Thomas (73), Kloska for Capon (73), Lahiff for Afoa (74), D Thomas for Vui (75), Holmes for Joyce (57), Lloyd for Sheedy (14), Leiua for Piutau (66). Scorers – Tries: Heenan, Malins 2, Morahan, Earl. Cons: Lloyd 3. Pens: Lloyd.
Referee: Christophe Ridley (RFU).