Battling Bears suffer injury-time heartache

PAT Lam and his Bears were left wondering what might I have been following an agonising European exit in France.

- GARY FITZGERALD

The Bristol boss saw his men lose an epic contest with replacement flanker Thomas Ceyte crashing over for the dramatic winning try six minutes into added on time.

It was heart-breaking for the Premiership outfit who were virtually out on their feet at the end of a frantic clash at Stade Marcel-Michelin.

Replacement Kieran Marmion had raced over for Bears' fourth try in the 80th minute and Harry Byrne's fine touchline kick had leveled matters to give the visitors hope of a stunning victory to put them into the last 16.

However, there was still another agonising twist as both teams-needing to win to have any chance of progressing went toe for toe. Sadly, for Bears it was not to be as Ceyte scored to leave them down on their knees in despair.

Lam said: "It's so disappointing but I am extremely proud of our boys putting their bodies on the line. They laid it all out there for the cause.