“That was a really bad day, an embarrassing day and I’ve already apologised to our supporters.”
Press Association Sport Staff
09:49, 17 May 2026
Northampton Saints’ Callum Chick scores his side’s third try of the game during the Gallagher PREM match at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton. Picture date: Friday May 15, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Bradley Collyer/PA Wire.
(Image: Bradley Collyer/PA Wire)
Pat Lam admitted that was “probably the worst” night he’s had in rugby after his Bristol Bears side suffered a humiliating 94-33 defeat at Gallagher Prem leaders Northampton Saints on Friday.
The records tumbled at Franklin’s Gardens as Northampton scored their most points in a league game and the most by any team in a first half in the competition’s history with 61.
It was also the most points Bristol – who shipped 14 of the 19 tries scored overall – have ever conceded in a Prem game as an embarrassing night for them all-but ended their play-off hopes.
George Hendy led the charge for Northampton by scoring four tries, with the hosts also crossing through braces from Rory Hutchinson and Archie McParland, and one apiece from Callum Chick, Alex Coles, George Furbank, Josh Kemeny, Henry Pollock and Sam Graham.
Harry Thacker, Louis Rees-Zammit, Harry Randall, Lukas Ivanishvili and Noah Heward replied with tries for the visitors.
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Lam, Bristol’s director of rugby, said: “I’ve had some nights like that before, but that was probably the worst.
“Firstly, well done Saints, they were on fire. They made the most of every opportunity – turnovers, yellow cards – and they played really well, while we obviously couldn’t stop it. It was just one of those nights and certainly in rugby terms, that was one of the hardest ones. But in life terms, there are a lot of tougher things I’ve faced.
“I think you’ve got to give context to where we’re at and the challenges that we’ve faced and we’ve adapted really well.
NORTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – MAY 15: Sam Graham of Northampton Saints scores his team’s thirteenth try during the Gallagher PREM match between Northampton Saints and Bristol Bears at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens on May 15, 2026 in Northampton, England. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)(Image: Getty Images)
“Throughout the whole season there are a few clubs that have struggled with injuries and the boys have challenged well to get where we are.
“But this happens in life: you get a bad day and that was a really bad day, an embarrassing day and I’ve already apologised to our supporters.
“Obviously its embarrasing and disappointing but it’s how you deal with it. Is it the worst thing in the world what has happened to us? Of course it’s not. For us to get back together and go on. I want to apologise to all the fans. We are obviously disappointed.”
Asked if it ended Bears’ play-offs hopes, he added: “‘d say so. It was Saints’ night obviously and we have to get back, dust ourselves off, and about when you get kicked down, what you do.”
Northampton director of rugby Phil Dowson was delighted with how his team bounced back from defeat at Leicester to seal a Gallagher Prem semi-final spot the annihilation of Bristol.
NORTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – MAY 15: A big screen shows the score of 94-33 during the Gallagher PREM match between Northampton Saints and Bristol Bears at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens on May 15, 2026 in Northampton, England. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)(Image: Getty Images)
Dowson said: “We were very disappointed last week. We were well and truly hammered at (Leicester) Tigers and that hurt and I think you probably saw how much that hurt today.
“I thought we reflected really well on that game in our preparation for it and actually how we’ve been playing for the last couple of weeks and what it means to get momentum and confidence back into a group. The way we trained Monday, the way we trained Wednesday and the way we connected yesterday, I thought was outstanding and it was reflected in how we played.
“There were loads of small subplots, with Colesy (Alex Coles) and TP (Tom Pearson) coming back. I’m delighted to see those guys back.
“I thought some of our defence was good – getting turnovers in your own 22 is a big part of the game and early on, when it was close, we came up with some of those.”
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