Pat Lam: 'I’ve always known how much it means to our supporters to beat them'

Pat Lam was delighted to put a difficult week behind him as Bristol recovered from last week’s incredible thrashing at Northampton to upset the form book by defeating local rivals Bath 21-19.

Bristol were second best in the first half to deservedly trail 19-7 at the interval, a week on from losing 94-33 to Saints.

But inspired by a tremendous performance from centre Benhard Janse van Rensburg, they turned a pulsating game at Ashton Gate on its head to achieve a memorable victory.

Bristol’s tries came from Fitz Harding and Max Lahiff, in addition to a penalty try award, with both AJ MacGinty and Tom Jordan adding conversions.

Ollie Lawrence, Guy Pepper and Thomas du Toit scored Bath’s tries with Ciaran Donoghue kicking two conversions.

Fixture

Gallagher Premiership

Bristol

21 - 19

Full-time

Bath

All Stats and Data

Director of rugby Lam said: “We had to prove that last week’s game was a 100 per cent one-off, which we obviously did.

“We have bounce-back characters who dust themselves off and I’ve been excited about this game since the start of the week.

“We survived the storm of the first half and put our bodies on the line to keep them scoreless in the second half.

“I first played Bath in the Premiership back in 2018 and we beat them before a full house and since that date I’ve always known how much it means to our supporters to beat them.”

Bath missed the opportunity to go back to the top of the league table, with their director of rugby Johan van Graan bemoaning his side’s failure to take their chances.

He said: “The first half was very good as we were in control to lead 19-7 at the interval, but we still created loads of opportunities which we didn’t take.

“Their tries came from our mistakes and there were a few big moments in the match which proved crucial including Henry’s (Arundell) yellow card.

“Our plan was to slow Bristol’s ball at the breakdown and it worked very well in the first half.

“I was happy with the decision to try and kick the penalty in the last minute. It was a long way out but Santi (Carreras) fancied it and you have to accept his decision. He had the distance and had it gone over the night would have felt so different.

“It was a great occasion but we came here to win and it’s disappointing to be on the wrong side of the result.

“However our fortunes are still in our own hands as we have Leicester to play at home next week when we hope to be able to put out our strongest side.”