News
REPORT | Blues suffer frustrating defeat to Ampthill
Bedford Blues missed their chance to put massive pressure on the Championship's top four as they fell to a bitterly disappointing 20-10 defeat to Ampthill at Goldington Road
Fresh from a sell-out crowd on Boxing Day against Jersey Reds, another 3,431 hardy souls swept through the turnstiles but it was to be an afternoon of frustration as Bedford failed to make it back-to-back victories in the #BattleofBedfordshire.
Forwards Coach, Sean McCarthy said: "We looked rusty at times, not much impetus and we probably let ourselves and the fans down today with our performance.
"Hopefully, by playing week in, week out for a month or so then we should get some consistency in our performances. That week in, week out routine suits us because it gets more rugby on a consistent basis."
It all started so perfectly for Mike Rayer's side who crossed the whitewash just two minutes into proceedings. Blues set up quite a solid driving maul before deciding to peel off the side to allow Jack Hughes to barrel his way over; scoring for the fourth successive game with the dot down.
There must have been something in the water as both kickers misfired throughout the afternoon - including missing all first-half kicking opportunties - meaning just a slender 5-0 lead.
That was the only time Bedford led in the game as Ampthill came fighting back and dragged Rayer's side into their style of play. When they needed to, Ampthill were solid in defence and took their opportunities when they arose.
Blues almost tried to make it too complicated at times and that indecision or overkeenness to get the ball out wide allowed Ampthill to retaliate and make their way up the pitch when they should have been made to work harder for it.
The visitors responded in the 11th minute in the only way they possibly could. Down came the lineout before the forwards did their work and sent hooker Jack Dickinson over the try line.
They went in-front for the first time just five minutes later. On this occasion, scrum-half Harri Morgan spotted a gap and burst straight through it to go near the sticks. Still the missed conversions continued.
Hughes didn't waste too much time to get himself back in the game when he dotted down again - somewhat acrobatically - to make it five in just four games; a real purple patch for the young hooker who has featured in every game this campaign.
That was it in terms of the first-half proceedings as the two sides went in at the break at dealock of 10-10.
Blues probably edged possession in the second half but were wasteful and came away from every opportunity into the Ampthill 22m with absolutely nothing to show for it. Credit to Ampthill for their solid defensive structure but it was too haphazard and ultimately haunted the home side.
Bennett finally exorcised the curse of the kicking tee when he landed a penalty to put Ampthill back in-front and they took away the impending losing bonus point too through centre Ben Cambriani, with that conversion kicked by Jack Bergin.
A hugely frustrating afternoon but with fixtures in all of the next six weekends, ample opportunity to put things right. Onto Richmond next Saturday.
*Matchday Photography provided by Claire Jones - redhatphoto.co.uk and Matt Fleming - mattflemingphotography.co.uk*
Teams
BEDFORD BLUES
15. Rich Lane (C) (63'), 14. Matt Worley, 13. Jamie Elliott, 12. Louis Grimoldby, 11. Dean Adamson, 10. Will Maisey, 9. Connor Tupai (54'); 1. Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi (59'), 2. Jack Hughes (51'), 3. Corrie Barrett (59'), 4. Jordan Onojaife, 5. Luke Frost, 6. JJ Tonks (51'), 7. Ollie Newman (54'), 8. Oli Stedman (71')
Replacements
16. Jacob Fields (51'), 17. Joey Conway (59'), 18. Corrie Barrett (59'), 19. Robin Williams (71'), 20. Bailey Ransom (51'), 21. Joe Atkinson (54'), 22. Alex Day (54'), 23. Pat Tapley (63')
AMPTHILL
15. Joe Luca-Smith, 14. Josh Gillespie (71'), 13. Ben Cambriani (78'), 12. Josh Bragman, 11. Josh Skelcey, 10. Russell Bennett (72'), 9. Harri Morgan; 1. Jamie Jack (57'), 2. Jack Dickinson (57'), 3. Sam Wainwright (71'), 4. Charlie Beckett (C), 5. Cai Devine (73'), 6. Jac Arthur, 7. Joe Bercis, 8. Paddy Ryan (71')
Replacements:
16. Billy Harding (57'), 17. Sam Crean (57'), 18. Aleki Lutui (71'), 19. Carl Burgess (73'), 20. Josh Smart (71'), 21. Gavin Williams (78'), 22. Jack Bergin (72'), 23. Joe Goodchild (71')
REFEREE
Adam Leal
ATTENDANCE
3,431
