Rich Lane hobbles off after scoring try in big Bristol Bears win over Newcastle Red Bulls - 'That might come with a little bit of pain'

Rich Lane's issues with injuries reared their head again on Friday as he hobbled over the line when scoring a try in Bristol Bears' thumping 52-19 win over Newcastle Red Bulls.

Lane opened the scoring for Bristol in the ninth minute, gathering a brilliant pass from Matias Moroni to run through unopposed to touch down.

But as Lane made his way to the try line, the 32-year-old slowed and began to limp with an injury he picked up in breaking away from the Newcastle defence.

"But Lane looks like he's lame. That might come with a little bit of pain," Nick Mullins said on TNT Sports commentary as Lane scored.

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Co-commentator Austin Healey added: "Well, let's hope he's okay because he's had a terrible time with hamstring injuries this season. Fingers crossed that is nothing serious."

Lane was immediately substituted, with the full-back being replaced by Kalaveti Ravouvou.

The change did not appear to hamper the Bears though, with Ravouvou scoring with his first touch to double Bristol's lead.

Lane's try and subsequent injury came at the end of a flowing Bristol move, one which Healey heaped praise on.

Highlights: Bristol boost play-off hopes with thumping win over Newcastle

Video credit: TNT Sports

"It's just typical Bristol, flinging the wide pass, just seeing what's on, speculative one over the top. But then this is a lovely little run-around," Healey said.

"Moroni puts the chip in and they re-gather on the bounce, excellent play. Looks like he's going into touch, that's the pass they want to look at, it might've been forward for me.

"Oh, I hope he hasn't done his hamstring again," Healey said as he watched a replay of Lane hobbling over the line to score.

Lane was not the only Bristol player to leave Friday's game with an apparent injury, with Gabriel Oghre, Benjamin Grondona and Noah Heward all heading off. Joe Batley was also ruled out just minutes before kick-off.

Lane missed the majority of the start of the season with a neck injury, only making his first start early this year.

At the end of last season, he signed a new contract to remain with the Bears after establishing himself as one of the most dangerous attacking players in the Gallagher PREM.

”His experience and game understanding as a specialist full-back as well as his ability to also play as a left-footed left wing will continue to give us real depth and versatility in our back three," Bristol director of rugby, Pat Lam, said of Lane when he signed the new contract.

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The victory over Newcastle lifted the Bears into fourth in the PREM table ahead of the remaining weekend fixtures as the battle for the play-offs heats up.

They now have 48 points, one more than Exeter Chiefs in fifth place, having played a game more. The Chiefs will play Gloucester on Sunday, live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.

The top four teams at the end of the season qualify for the play-offs, before two will go toe-to-toe in the final at Allianz Stadium on June 20.

Conversely, the defeat for the Red Bulls leaves them rooted to the foot of the PREM table with just seven points from their 14 games.

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Watch and stream the Gallagher PREM, Autumn Nations Series and Premiership Women's Rugby live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.

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