Defeat sums up whole campaign, admits Lam
PAT Lam believes that Bristol Bears’ heavy defeat at Sale on Saturday summed up their disappointing season, writes Sam Frost.
The Bears were 28-0 down before the interval on the final day of the Gallagher Premiership campaign, with Tom Roebuck, Akker van der Merwe and a Cobus Wiese brace securing the bonus point.
Toby Fricker got a try back and replacement Nathan Hughes added a late double on his final Bristol appearance, but secondhalf scores from Arron Reed and Dan Du Preez sealed a heavy defeat for the away side.
It was a fitting end to a poor campaign for Bristol, finishing tenth in the standings after a 16th defeat. Set-piece woes and sloppy handling gave Sale a helping hand and, driven by the desire to win for departing South Africans Lood de Jager and Faf De Klerk, the Sharks were ruthless.
“I think it sums it up nicely, particularly that first half,” director of rugby Lam said afterwards. “It was 28-0 and from our first nine lineouts, either we turned them over at the lineout or the maul.
“I’ve never coached a team that loses nine lineouts, we spoke about it at half- time.
“Fair play, we said ‘Let’s go and enjoy our rugby’ because in the first half we blew two really good
SALE SHARKS ................. 42 BRISTOL BEARS ............. 19
long-range tries and we showed there was opportunity but we had no possession because we were turning the ball over.
“Fair play to the boys, we won that second half 19-14, but we coughed over two easy tries and we were chasing the game all the time.
“I think it’s time for a good break, but we’re pretty excited to get back on July 4 and there is a lot of work we’ve got to do.”
Sale: Hammersley; Roebuck, James, van Rensburg, Reed; R Du Preez, De Klerk; Rodd, van der Merwe, Schonert, Wiese, De Jager, J Du Preez, T Curry, D Du Preez. Replacements: Doherty for van Rensburg (49), Wilkinson for R Du Preez (60), Warr for De Klerk (60), Ashman for van der Merwe (49), B Curry for J Du Preez (49), Postlethwaite for T Curry (58). Not Used: Harrison, Oosthuizen.
Scorers – Tries: Roebuck, van der Merwe, Wiese 2, D Du Preez, Reed. Cons: R Du Preez 4, Wilkinson 2. Bristol: Piutau; Morahan, Bates, Leiua, Fricker; Sheedy, Randall; Woolmore, Kerr, Afoa, Hawkins, Vui, Luatua, D Thomas, Jeffries. Replacements: Purdy for Piutau (69), I Lloyd for Leiua (56), Uren for Randall (60), Kloska for Woolmore (73), Byrne for Kerr (29), Benz-Salomon for Afoa (40), Hughes for Luatua (67). Not Used: Holmes. Scorers – Tries: Fricker, Hughes 2. Cons: Sheedy 2. Referee: Adam Leal (RFU).
WEEKEND RESULTS
Gallagher Premiership: Exeter Chiefs 47 Harlequins 38, Gloucester Rugby 54 Saracens 7, Leicester Tigers 20 Wasps 10, Northampton Saints 65 Newcastle Falcons 26, Sale Sharks 42 Bristol Bears 19, Worcester Warriors 43 Bath Rugby 27.
Final standings: Leicester 94, Saracens 87, Harlequins 80, Northampton 75, Gloucester 73,
Sale 70, Exeter 69, London Irish 63, Wasps 60,
Bristol 48, Worcester 35, Newcastle 34, Bath 34.