“It sort of sums up our season in a sense that we showed a lot of good things and the boys adapted well, so I’m pleased with that.”
Press Association Sport Reporters
13:56, 07 Jun 2026
SALFORD, ENGLAND – JUNE 06: Sam Worsley of Bristol Bears celebrates with teammates after making a try during the Gallagher PREM match between Sale Sharks and Bristol Bears at CorpAcq Stadium on June 06, 2026 in Salford, England. (Photo by Ben Roberts Photo/Getty Images)(Image: Getty Images)
Bristol Bears director of rugby Pat Lam took the positives from his side’s performance at the end of a season which saw them miss out on the play-offs.
The Bears had already seen their play-off hopes ended before the final day trip to Sale which saw the hosts end their campaign on a high with a comfortable 38-17 bonus-point win over an understrength Bristol.
Bristol, who named an all-English matchday 23 to ensure they meet the RFU’s EQP regulations, fell behind early on as England fly-half George Ford opened the scoring and lock Ben Bamber soon doubled Sale’s lead before winger Arron Reed and full-back Joe Carpenter also touched down.
But Bears hit back with two tries from winger Noah Heward and hooker Tomas Gwilliam before the break. But Sale scored a fifth try through Rekeiti Ma’asi-White and Reed claimed his second before Bristol fly-half Sam Worsley completed the scoring late on.
SALFORD, ENGLAND – JUNE 06: Sam Worsley of Bristol Bears makes a try during the Gallagher PREM match between Sale Sharks and Bristol Bears at CorpAcq Stadium on June 06, 2026 in Salford, England. (Photo by Ben Roberts Photo/Getty Images)(Image: Getty Images)
Lam said: “I was really proud of the guys. We knew Sale had to get a result for their Champions Cup qualification and then I saw their selection.
“But for our guys like Ollie Harris and they’re looking up at the likes of Tom Curry, George Ford and Tom Roebuck.
“These are guys they were excited to play against and we got off to a rough start – going 14-0 down and then 26-10 down at the break. But I was really proud of Harry Randall in how he kept everyone calm, and Joe Batley.
“We scored two before half-time and I was really pleased with the fight that we showed because it’s going to hold our young lads in good stead.
“It sort of sums up our season in a sense that we showed a lot of good things and the boys adapted well, so I’m pleased with that.
“I know we finished in sixth place, but there’s a gap to seventh and a small gap to fourth.”
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Alex Sanderson was delighted to see Sale end their disappointing PREM Rugby campaign on a high. Sanderson’s Sharks have made the play-offs in each of the past three campaigns but ended this season in seventh, their lowest placing since finishing in that position in 2018-19.
They needed a point to guarantee a place in next term’s Champions Cup and a dominant first-half display laid the platform for a thumping six-try win over a Bristol side who finished this season in sixth.
SALFORD, ENGLAND – JUNE 06: Aidan Boshoff of Bristol Bears is challenged by Arron Reed of Sale Sharks during the Gallagher PREM match between Sale Sharks and Bristol Bears at CorpAcq Stadium on June 06, 2026 in Salford, England. (Photo by Ben Roberts Photo/Getty Images)(Image: Getty Images)
A number of players are leaving Sale, including England scrum-half Raffi Quirke, and director of rugby Sanderson said: “It’s been the longest, hardest and most challenging season I’ve ever had.
“It was good to send the lads off who are leaving in a good vein and I’m happy with the response of our defence.
“In attack, clearly it was in the form of where our game model is going and that’s exciting.
“The young lads stepped up and you realise who’s in your corner, but this leaves me massively optimistic for next season.”
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