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REPORT | Brave Blues fall to Ealing defeat
It was a performance full of heart and desire but ultimately nothing to show for it on the scoreboard as Bedford Blues fell to a 25-17 defeat to Ealing Trailfinders at Goldington Road.
It was impossible to count the amount of tackles Blues had to put in for another steely defensive performance - at a guess you could estimate at least 130 - as they soaked up wave after wave of pressure but sadly succumbed in the end.
Just like the Bath game two weeks ago, conditions made it almost impossible for Mike Rayer's side to get into their free flowing rhythmn with swirling wind and howling rain making it tricky to keep ball in hand through multiple phases.
A brave call from Blues to elect to go down the slope in the first half looked to be paying off when they built up a 17-8 advantage to take back to the sheds. Despite the testing conditions, there were two expertly crafted tries for Matt Worley and Alfie Garside to dot down - and some superb tee kicking from Will Maisey.
Ealing controlled territory and possession and you almost couldn't believe they didn't have more points on the board - but that only went to demonstrate just how much Blues were putting their bodies on the line for the cause and inhibitng everything the visitors tried to do.
Eventually pressure tells and Ealing continued to pose questions. As the game drew on, Blues' discipline faded and two yellow cards in the space of 45 seconds killed all the momentum as Ealing secured the points.
Mightily disappointing not to at least hold on to a bonu spoint which they deserved, but no time to dwell on proceedings with two tough away games on the horizon before Christmas.
Blues Assistant Coach, Jim Henry conceded: "Really disappointed to come away with nothing but ill discipline cost us in the end. Spending 10 minutes with 13 men always makes it hard work to hang on in there.
"We’ll review the game because there will be loads of positives from the lads going toe to toe with Ealing, just really disappointing to come away without the bonus point."
*Matchday photography by Simon Fraser*
