Bristol Bears' Resilience: Pat Lam's Praise for a Depleted Squad
Bristol Bears' director of rugby, Pat Lam, expressed his pride in his team's remarkable comeback victory over Exeter Chiefs in the Premier League. Despite facing a severely depleted squad, the Bears emerged victorious with a score of 18-14.
Lam's starting lineup lacked key players, including first-choice half-backs AJ MacGinty and Harry Randall, top try-scorer Gabriel Ibitoye, and new signing Louis Rees-Zammit. The team also suffered early exits due to apparent head knocks, with Josh Carrington and Jack Bates leaving the field prematurely.
Lam described the challenges leading up to the game, stating, 'With all the backs out, we couldn't train properly for most of the week.' The team trailed 14-8 at halftime, with Tom Jordan receiving a red card for 20 minutes. Despite the setbacks, the Bears demonstrated their fighting spirit and character.
Lam highlighted the team's resilience, saying, 'Talk about real fight from this group... We talked at halftime about what we needed to do, and the boys executed it so well.' This comeback victory is a testament to the team's determination and Lam's leadership.
This win marks the Bears' third success in four matches across all competitions, following a 50-17 league defeat to Saracens on October 4. Lam acknowledged the team's previous performance, stating, 'We were pretty embarrassed because we lacked cohesion.' However, the team rallied, focusing on their collisions and fights, and emerged victorious.
Looking ahead, Lam emphasized the need for the Bears to address their growing injury concerns, especially with a short turnaround before their upcoming match against Gloucester. The team's resilience and ability to adapt will be crucial in their continued success.
