Tries from Ryan Hutler, Tommy Herman, Rory Ward and James Fish secured a fourth straight Champ Rugby win for Bedford Blues on Friday night (7 November) as Mike Rayer’s side picked up maximum points with a 26-7 victory over London Scottish.
On a damp and slippery evening at the Richmond Athletic Ground, mistakes were aplenty and opportunity for free-flowing rugby was scarce, but the points return to Bedford as the Blues creep up the second tier table with another capital triumph.
While there were bright lights filling the skies back at Goldington Road, there was a distinct lack of fireworks at the home of London Scottish as the Blues battled their way to five more points on an attritional night of rugby union on Twickenham Road.
Bedford have been in fine form in recent weeks; their 36-32 success against Doncaster Knights last Friday included some scintillating rugby, while Scottish’s sole league victory at Cambridge had been enveloped by four losses as they languish in 13th.
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Blues fans would not be amiss in stating that their team have been slow starters in the first month of Champ Rugby action, but they were out of the blocks quicker on Friday night as Ryan Hutler opened the scoring after five minutes.
Quick ball from the returning Alex Day found Alex Woolford, who popped a delightful poke inside to the marauding Ryan Hutler, and while he wasn’t required to sprint 80 metres this time, he proceeded to skip past two tackles to touch down under the posts.
It was the perfect beginning to a game that looked as if it would be tough going in sodden conditions, and so it proved as the Blues struggled to hold on to the ball on many occasions, allowing Scottish a chance to respond.
Tom Marshall completed the try that befitted the ugly conditions; dotting down off the back of a maul, and the two converted tries remained the only scores in a first half more memorable for its errors than its magic.
Trio of tries enough to see Blues home
The second half began in the same vain as the first; with handling errors and box kicks, but on 47 minutes, the Blues regained their lead as Tommy Herman pushed his way over the try line off the base of the breakdown.
A period of Scottish pressure followed, although the visiting defence held firm and their barricade was rewarded with a third try on the hour mark that gave Rayer’s men some breathing space.
Again, it was in uncharacteristic circumstances, but excellent awareness from Rory Ward allowed him to take matters into his own hands as he escaped out of the side of a rolling maul, powering over the try line to extend the lead to 19-7.
The Scottish response lacked firepower, choosing to put boot to ball on frequent occasions, but the Blues were able to hold them off with relative comfort, and then sealed the crucial bonus point late on with a fourth try.
James Fish – again from a maul – was the beneficiary, and with Maisey’s kicking beginning to find its radar, the conversion sealed a hard-fought 26-7 victory that confirmed a fourth straight maximum point triumph.
Friday night lights ahead
The win takes Bedford Blues up to second in the table, albeit perhaps temporarily, as once more the majority of the division play their games on Saturday.
There were two more games in Champ Rugby on Friday night, led by a shock Castle Park victory for Chinnor, who squeezed past Doncaster Knights 23-21.
Cornish Pirates were also impressive victors, beating Nottingham 36-28 away from home.
Bedford Blues play their third straight Friday night fixture on 14 November, as they host an impressive Caldy at Goldington Road, hoping to keep their winning form up ahead of clashes against Nottingham, (again on a Friday) before hosting Cambridge in the first weekend of December.
