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REPORT | 84 point thriller to close cup campaign
Bedford Blues signed off their Championship Cup campaign with a thrilling 42-42 draw against group winners Doncaster Knights, but will be left to ponder just how they managed to not win the game.
Blues twice had leads of 14+ in the game, once in each half, but credit to Doncaster for staying in the fight and dragging themselves off the canvas to get the result they required to book their spot in the semi-finals of the competition this May.
Blues Assistant Coach, Jake Sharp said: “That performance is pretty humbling. You don’t get many chances to put a very good side away like Doncaster and we feel like its an opportunity missed in that sense.
“First 20 minutes we looked really comfortable. That is also a huge frustration that we went from such a dominance and not being able to capitalise on it.
“We can be a lot better, and we want to put on a better showing. I hope the fans enjoyed the 84 points and it sets up a nice spectacle when we do it all again in the league next weekend.”
A game that was essentially a dead rubber from a Blues perspective turned into anything but at Goldington Road in a contest that truly had it all - including another unreal crowd of 2,459 through the turnstiles.
The forwards pack were immense - watching them at scrum time was a joy to behold - and they really stood up to the test. In truth, Doncaster had blitzed the team in the two meetings up at Castle Park earlier this season and Blues needed to front up.
Mike Rayer's side were out of the blocks with huge intent, wrapping up the try bonus point inside half an hour. Tui Uru scored twice, while Joey Conway and Jac Arthur also got in on the act as the forwards dominated the early proceedings.
In response, Doncaster had a John Kelly try on the board but were 28-7 down.
Changing both props so early did them wonders and when Charles Rylands was shown a yellow card for a needless tripping of the ball carrier, they took advantage to reduce the scores before the break.
It felt like a game of two halves at times as Doncaster shot out of the traps in the second half to draw themselves level, captain Sam Olver getting his second while the influential replacement, Rhys Tait scored his first.
A melee close to the touchline had the Goldington Road faithful in full voice and Blues responded to reach what looked like an insurmountable lead. Matt Worley kept his fine run of scoring form with a neat snipe in the corner, before Luke Frost stretched out a big hand to make it 42-28.
Credit to all three kickers who were faultless all afternoon and it fell to Doncaster’s Alex Dolly to tie proceedings after a penalty try and Tait’s second with time in the red.
