Half-time rollicking did trick for Bears, says Yann Thomas

BRISTOL prop Yann Thomas admitted the visitors were plenty fired up by boss Pat Lam's half-time rollicking as they put Quins away in a one-sided second half at The Stoop.

Thomas revealed: “The boss just told us there's the exit door if you want to go home or there's the door back onto the pitch if you want to go and work hard and battle.

“None of the players wanted to get back on the bus. We knew what we had to do to turn things around and get on top, and that's what happened to a point.

“We were determined to head into the New Year on a good footing and make sure we keep some pressure on at the top of the table.

“Now we have to learn from our mistakes and make sure we put in a better 80 minutes performance next time.”

Harlequins fly-half Marcus Smith, who scored all his side's points including a converted try in the final minute, said: “It's a disappointing way to lose especially after all the good work in both defence and attack in the first half.

“But it's an 80 minute game and we fell short.”

Harlequins v Bristol Bears – player ratings

HARLEQUINS: Brown 6; Lynagh 7, Lang 7, Tapuai 6 (Anyanwu 79, 6) R Chisholm 7 (T Green 67, 6); Smith 7, Care 6 (M Landajo 67, 6); Els 6 (Garcia Botta 57, 6); Baldwin 7 (Elia 57, 6), Louw 7 (Kerrod 57, 6); Lamb 6 (Tizard 61, 6), Young 7; J Chisholm 6, Evans 7, Dombrandt (c) 7 (Lawday 55, 6)

BRISTOL: Malins 6 (Adeolokun 30, 6); Naulago, 7 Radradra 7 (Uren 75, 6), O'Conor 6, Lloyd 6 (Leiua 70, 6); Sheedy 7, Randall 8; Y Thomas 6 (Woolmore 57, 6), Capon 7 (Byrne 45, 6), Afoa 6 (Lahiff 57, 6); Attwood 7 (Joyce 57, 6); Holmes 7; Luatua (c) 8 (Heenan, 72, 6), D Thomas 7, Hughes 7

REFEREE: Matthew Carley

Star man: Harry Randall – Bristol