Pat Lam rues sloppy handling after Bristol Bears 'dominate'

Bristol director of rugby Pat Lam felt his side were their own worst enemies after they slipped to a 23-21 defeat against Harlequins after Jarrod Evans kicked a late penalty to deny them victory.

The hosts made early errors to fall behind 13-0 to a lively Harlequins.

However, aided by ever-worsening conditions at Ashton Gate, the Bears pack totally dominated the second half, but failed to take their opportunities which could have seen then open the new Gallagher Premiership season with a hat-trick of wins.

Virimi Vakatawa and Harry Thacker scored Bristol’s tries, with Callum Sheedy adding three penalties and a conversion.

George Hammond scored two tries for Harlequins, with Evans kicking two conversions and his third penalty from 45 metres out securing a dramatic win the 79th-minute.

“We were quite quickly out of the blocks, but made far too many errors in that opening quarter,” Lam said.

“If you keep dropping the ball it is impossible to maintain any momentum and put any pressure on them.

“We then turned it round in terms of momentum and went on to dominate the second half, but we failed to take a number of chances to put the game out of their reach.

“We were ahead with two minutes to go, but we then give away a penalty and it is the nature of the game now that it was going to be awarded.”

Harlequins assistant coach Danny Wilson accepted the change in the weather played a big part in how the game developed.

After a sunny morning and in bright conditions, Quins played their normal quick-offloading game to build up a 13-0 lead in the first quarter.

However, then the steady rain set in and Bristol thrived in the dank and miserable conditions.

“It is really pleasing to win at a difficult place in non-Quins conditions and playing in a different style of rugby,” Wilson said.

“We started brightly, then the weather changed and we immediately gave away five penalties in that second quarter.

“There was a clear momentum change, but unlike previous weeks, we came out of the traps quickly in the second half to get a try and then stay in the match.”

Quins were indebted to their new acquisition Evans as the Welsh international fly-half, who moved from Cardiff, held his nerve to land the match-winning kick from 45 metres.

Wilson said: “I have worked with Jarrod before and he is a class player who has been brilliant since he joined the club. It was by no means an easy kick in those conditions.”