News
Match Report v Hartpury
Bedford Blues secured their first success of the 2021 Championship season with a hard fought 33 - 25 victory over a resolute Hartpury side under the Friday night lights at Goldington Road.
Tries from Rich Lane, Joe Atkinson and James Fish gave Bedford a huge platform to go and win the game and they held out despite a determined Hartpury fightback in the second half; Will Maisey adding 18 points to confirm Bedford's Championship return to Goldington Road was marked in joyous circumstances.
In a game hampered for the majority by a high penalty count, both sides shared the opening exchanges and were deadlocked at 3-3 after the opening 15 minutes; Maisey and Hartpury counterpart Josh Bragman kicking respective penalties.
The game took a while to get going but when it set alight, Bedford were back to doing things in the traditional Bedford way with a scincillating free-flowing try. James Lennon made the initial dart through the defence before Blues built through the phases and went through the hands and over in the corner through Lane. Maisey's conversion made it 10-3.
Bragman reduced the arrears with another smart penalty before Maisey repsonded just after the half hour with three points of his own for 13-6.
It didn't stay that way for long, however, as Josh Gillespie misread the resulting kick-off leaving Hartpury's current star man and hat-trick hero from last week, Ben Foley to burst over and score. The conversion made it a tied game.
The game really burst into life in those last 10 minutes of the first-half and there was still some time for Bedford to again showcase what they're about with more tenacious attacking intent and magic play.
This time it was more about the individual brilliance of Joe Atkinson who came off a lineout to good effect and sprinted clear from 20m to get the second try of the evening. Another successful conversion from the touchline put Blues in-front at 20-13 heading back to the changing rooms.
Bedford came out of the blocks strong to pick up where they left off and were 30-13 clear at the 50 minute mark after some more clinical rugby.
First, Maisey kicked a simple penalty in-front of the posts before James Fish drove over for his inaugural Bedford try; aptly converted by the near fautless Man of the Match Bedford fly-half.
Bedford kept going in search of the bonus point try but credit where it's due, Hartpury put up some dogged and resilient defence before springbaording themselves back into the game to set up a tense finale.
The lead was still 17 with ten minutes to go but that was reduced to just five after the away side weathered the storm and showed the sort of grit and determination that will see them go far this campaign.
Replacement hooker Nick Selway went over from a powerful driving maul before blindside Aled Ward crossed the whitewash from a similar attacking move. One successful conversion made it 30-25 with four minutes to play.
Ice cool veins from Maisey with a minute to go all but wrapped up the points but Hartpury again came back fighting in search of the losing bonus point they had just surrendered. Bragman had the chance to get it - which the visitors would have deserved on reflection of the game - but he dragged the kick wide as Bedford got their first victory of the 2021 Championship season.
Teams
BEDFORD BLUES
15. Rich Lane, 14. Josh Gillespie, 13. Elijah Niko (66'), 12. Reuben Bird-Tulloch, 11. Matt Worley (70'), 10. Will Maisey, 9. James Lennon (62'); 1. Sean McCarthy (C) (51'), 2. James Fish (55'), 3. Ed Prowse (67'), 4. Lewis Bean, 5. Will Carrick Smith, 6. Ollie Newman (62'), 7. Joe Atkinson, 8. Oli Robinson (70')
Replacements
16. Jacob Fields (55'), 17. Joe Wrafter (51'), 18. Robin Hardwick (67'), 19. Manny Iyogun (62'), 20. Jack Hughes (70'), 21. Ewan Fenley (62'), 22. Tommy Mathews (66'), 23. Ryan Olowofela (70')
HARTPURY
15. George Simpson, 14. Ervin Muric (60'), 13. Robbie Smith, 12. James Williams, 11. Ben Foley, 10. Josh Bragman, 9. Will Flinn (50'); 1. Ashley Challenger (48'), 2. Will Crane (C) (48'), 3. Shaun Knight (66'), 4. Dale Lemon, 5. Ehize Ehizode (60'), 6. Aled Ward, 7. Joe Howard (48'), 8. Harry Wilson (65')
Replacements:
16. Nick Selway (48'), 17. Olly Adkins (48'), 18. Cameron Holenstein (66'), 19. Scott Russell (60'), 20. Josh Gray (48'), 21. Iain Grieve (65'), 22. Callum Waters (60'), 23. Tom Stanton (50')
