Another red puts pressure on Lam

PAT Lam choked back the bitter disappointment of a dramatic late derby defeat having endured the sight of wing Siva Naulago’s second red card in less than a month.

Fijian Naulago was sent off at the end of the first half having just come back from a threematch ban. This time it was a illegal tackle on Bath‘s Will Butt when Bristol had a healthy lead.

Director of rugby Lam said: “We know the standard. Whether it is close or really high, anything in that area is going to end up with a red. I will have to look at it again. We need to go through the process now but it is not ideal obviously. It is hard to take a defeat like this.

These games are always great and the atmosphere was superb.

“We started off well but we had the red card and three yellow cards and that is 20 odd minutes defending with 13 men and the rest of the game defending with 14 men.”

Bath’s Tom de Glanville admitted: “It’s a great feeling to win a derby like that with a try. It’s nice to be off the bottom of the table and hopefully it’s onwards and upwards now.”