Lewis Ludlam: Northampton Saints can't feel sorry for themselves after a heavy defeat to Bristol Bears

Lewis Ludlam labelled Northampton Saints' crushing defeat against Bristol Bears as a "test of character" in the dramatic race for the Gallagher Premiership Rugby playoff places.

Saints sit two points clear of Bath at the top of the table with five games remaining of the regular season despite falling to a 52-21 loss against Bears.

Phil Dowson's side were on a remarkable run of 10 successive wins ahead of the clash, but they conceded seven tries at Ashton Gate.

Saints skipper Ludlam, who will leave Franklin's Gardens at the end of the season, insists his side must bounce back quickly.

"The overriding message is we can't feel sorry for ourselves," he said. "They did a proper job on us but it's a good challenge for the team now.

"It's easy to get out of bed on a Monday morning when you're winning and it's a test of our character, a test of our strength, a test of our ambitions this season, how we turn up [for training] on Monday.

"We've got to pick ourselves off the floor pretty quickly and get going.

"We haven't won anything yet. Top of the table, it's a temporary thing. We have to be performance-driven.

"All that matters is we come in Monday, work on key areas of our game and keep improving through the week so on Friday we're ready to fire and put a performance in, and we'll see where that gets us."

The hosts were 17-7 ahead at half-time thanks to scores from Joe Batley and Harry Randall.

Kyle Sinckler and James Dun added the bonus point before Max Malins, Fred Davies, and Gabriel Ibitoye wrapped things up for Bears.

Director of Rugby Dowson admitted his side needed to take their medicine after such a heavy defeat.

"We took a good old-fashioned hiding and we've got to make sure we look at that in forensic detail, as a coaching group, as a playing group, and make sure we're better next time," said Dowson.

"Credit to Bristol, they played well and all the things we spoke about that they are dangerous at they proved to be, a very good side on the evening, way better than us - and we have to make sure we deal with that in the most honest way possible and move forward.

"It's easy to be tough, it's easy to be resilient, it's easy to be full of it when you've got the momentum and you're flying high, and sometimes you take a hiding and you have to take that medicine and move on.

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