Pat Lam: Bristol Bears boss unhappy with Newcastle Red Bulls pitch

Kingston Park is one of three venues to use an artificial pitch in the Prem along with Saracens’ StoneX Stadium and Gloucester’s Kingsholm.

And the play-off chasing Bears were counting the cost before play started as second-row forward Joe Batley injured his hamstring in the warm-up.

The same fate befell full-back Rich Lane while Argentina number eight Benjamin Grondona ended the evening with his arm in a sling after a pectoral injury.

Hooker Gabriel Oghre came off in the first half after a heavy landing left him with a knee issue and winger Noah Heward went off as a precaution after also feeling his hamstring.

Even those without serious injuries were feeling the effect of grazes and burns from Newcastle’s pitch.

Bristol have no game now until they host Saracens on 9 May but Lam will have to delve deep into his squad again for the final four games of the regular Prem season.

“This is the squad, that’s why we train all this year,” said Lam. “I always say to the guys, ‘Be ready’.

“That’s what this team’s about. We step up. There’s a system to be done, it’s your turn to do it and that’s what a lot of the boys who came in tonight, did.”