09:49, 17 May 2026<\/p>\n
![\"Northampton](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779008596_450_1_Northampton-Saints-v-Bristol-Bears-Gallagher-PREM-cinch-Stadium-at-Franklins-Gardens.jpg\")
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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.
\n(Image: Bradley Collyer\/PA Wire)<\/p>\n
Pat Lam admitted that was \u201cprobably the worst\u201d night he\u2019s had in rugby after his Bristol Bears<\/a> side suffered a humiliating 94-33 defeat at Gallagher Prem leaders Northampton Saints on Friday.<\/p>\n The records tumbled at Franklin\u2019s Gardens as Northampton scored their most points in a league game and the most by any team in a first half in the competition\u2019s history with 61.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Harry Thacker, Louis Rees-Zammit, Harry Randall, Lukas Ivanishvili and Noah Heward replied with tries for the visitors.<\/p>\n Want to make sure you are on top of all the rugby news in the South West? Then our new newsletter is the perfect place to do so<\/p>\n All the latest news, views, interviews, reports, and analysis concerning Bristol Bears, Bath Rugby, Exeter Chiefs and Gloucester Rugby are delivered straight to your inbox.<\/p>\n It’s completely free and you can sign up HERE<\/a><\/p>\n Lam, Bristol\u2019s director of rugby, said: \u201cI\u2019ve had some nights like that before, but that was probably the worst.<\/p>\n \u201cFirstly, 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\u2019t 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\u2019ve faced.<\/p>\n \u201cI think you\u2019ve got to give context to where we\u2019re at and the challenges that we\u2019ve faced and we\u2019ve adapted really well.<\/p>\n 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)<\/p>\n \u201cThroughout the whole season there are a few clubs that have struggled with injuries and the boys have challenged well to get where we are.<\/p>\n \u201cBut this happens in life: you get a bad day and that was a really bad day, an embarrassing day and I\u2019ve already apologised to our supporters.<\/p>\n “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.”<\/p>\n 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.”<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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)<\/p>\n Dowson said: \u201cWe 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.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought we reflected really well on that game in our preparation for it and actually how we\u2019ve 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.<\/p>\n \u201cThere were loads of small subplots, with Colesy (Alex Coles) and TP (Tom Pearson) coming back. I\u2019m delighted to see those guys back.<\/p>\n \u201cI 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Bristol Bears on Whatsapp<\/p>\n Join Bristol Live’s Whatsapp community for all the biggest Bristol Bears stories sent straight to your phone<\/strong><\/p>\n Bristol Live<\/a> is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join our community.<\/p>\n Through the app, we\u2019ll send the Bristol Rovers news, live match coverage, team news, transfers, fixtures, analysis and more straight to your phone.<\/p>\n To join our community you need to already have WhatsApp. All you need to do is click this link and select \u2018Join Community\u2019.<\/a><\/p>\n No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Bristol Live<\/a> team.<\/p>\n We also treat community members to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. 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