Bears were ruthless, says happy Lam
PAT Lam praised his “ruthless” players after Bristol Bears crushed Newcastle Falcons 85-14 in the Gallagher Premiership at Ashton Gate on Sunday afternoon.
The Bears reeled off a fifth win in a row to move into the play-off places with three matches of the regular season remaining.
Lam’s team scored more than 50 points for the third home game in a row, posting a club-record Premiership win as they ran in 13 tries – Benhard Janse van Rensburg and Virimi Vakatawa each scoring twice, while Siva Naulago, James Dun, Max Malins, James Williams, Magnus Bradbury, Ellis Genge, Harry Randall, Kieran Marmion, and Jake Heenan scored too.
Bristol finish with three tough games – Leicester away, Saracens at home, and Harlequins away – but they have great momentum.
Bears director of rugby Lam, below, said: “I am really pleased for the whole squad. Everyone is pushing hard, understands their roles. It was a good day. The players were ruthless in terms of getting their jobs done for the team.
“We have put a real emphasis back on our skills, our mindset, our teamwork and being fearless. When I look around the place, the boys are enjoying themselves.
“The table means nothing until the last round is finished, which is when it counts. Now we go to Leicester and if you get a win there, it is always cherished.”
Newcastle boss Steve Diamond admitted his team “did not get off the bus” as the bottom-of-thetable side crumbled .
The Falcons consultant director of rugby said: “I thought we had taken a couple of steps forward over the last month, but that was certainly a step back. It gives us a line in the sand.
“We never touched the ball for the first 15 minutes and they were 21 points up. We didn’t get off the bus. It was not a positive vibe.
“All we can do is take them back home and get them ready for Sale next week.
“I said when I came back in that we would have three or four games and I would be making decisions. That is what we will do.
“It’s a tough world out there and we are obviously not up to it in certain areas, which was evident.
“Bristol were outstanding – they would probably have put 25-30 points on anybody in the league – it is a tough learning day.”