Lam: We'll keep defying critics

PAT Lam expects his Bristol side to continue defying the critics after going into the Premiership break second in the table.

- By PAUL REES

They are six points ahead of Saracens in fifth and very much in control of their own destiny having secured 10 try bonus points in their 11 matches.

"Everyone would have taken our position at the start of the season," said Lam, right, Bristol's director of rugby. "Not one person in the media expected us to be in the top four, but I did.

"I knew all the work that we had put in during the pre-season and expected us to hit the ground running. When you consider where we were a year ago and the injuries we have suffered having operated with a smaller squad, the players have done well.