Bears just not clinical enough, admits Lam

PAT Lam was left to rue the chances his side left on the AJ Bell field on Saturday as Bristol Bears suffered their sixth straight defeat in the Gallagher Premiership – losing by five points to second-in-the-table Sale Sharks, writes John Evely.

The good news for the Bristol director of rugby, pictured, is that it did not look like second versus tenth in the Premiership in a finely balanced contest, but the bad news is that despite the improved display a lack of clinical finishing continues to hurt the Bears.

A competitive first half saw momentum swing both ways, though Bristol rallied to hold a two-point lead at the interval, largely thanks to Piers O’Conor’s two converted tries. But it was chances not finished following a break from Piers O’Conor in the opening minute and Will Porter before half-time that will weigh on Lam’s mind.

Jean-Luc du Preez’s second-half try, coupled with his brother Rob’s conversion and earlier penalty, powered the hosts to a seventh win of the season.

The last time Bristol lost six in a row in the league was in 2017, before Lam arrived at the club, when the Bears were relegated.

Lam said: “I am proud of the boys for their fight and their effort because it is not the easiest place to come to. It is never pretty up

SALE SHARKS ................. 25 BRISTOL BEARS ............. 20

here, it is about matching their physicality and we created enough chances today, unfortunately we weren’t clinical enough to finish it off and we were on the wrong end of the penalty count again.

“We created a lot of chances and opportunities that we didn’t take, but it is one we know we weren’t far off in.”

Sale: Carpenter; Roebuck, S James, S Hill, McGuigan; R Du Preez, Warr; Harrison, Van der Merwe, Schonert, Wiese, Beaumont, JL Du Preez, Ross, D Du Preez. Replacements: Reed for Roebuck (56), Simpson for

Warr (50), Taylor for Van der Merwe (62), Jones for Schonert (66), Birch for Wiese (74), Dugdale for Ross (63). Not Used: McIntyre, Wilkinson.

Scorers – Tries: R Du Preez, Roebuck, JL Du Preez. Cons: R Du Preez 2. Pens: R Du Preez 2.

Bristol: Piutau; Morahan, O’Connor, Bedlow, Ibitoye; Sheedy, Porter; Woolmore, Byrne, Lahiff, Batley, Vui, Luatua, Harding, Bradbury. Replacements: Jenkins for Bedlow (62), MacGinty for Sheedy (36), Uren for Porter (74), Tyack for Woolmore (76), Thacker for Byrne (55), Hawkins for Batley (68), Heenan for Luatua (59). Not Used: A Benz-Salomon.

Scorers – Tries: O’Connor 2. Cons:

Pens: MacGinty 2.

Referee: Adam Leal (RFU).

Sheedy 2.