Bedford Athletic concluded the first half of their Regional Two Midlands East campaign with a 37-7 win at bottom club Wellingborough on Friday night (5 December).
The win leaves them in second place, trailing leaders Market Harborough by two points heading into the second half of the campaign.
Whatever the merits of Friday night rugby, they were ruined by a dreadful evening weather wise with the rain and cold sapping all the energy and creativity from proceedings.
To their credit, Bedford Athletic adapted their game plan accordingly and played very little expansive rugby on an evening when even kicking was difficult.
It is unsurprising that of their seven tries, six of these were scored by forwards and more than a little unusual that of these six, five were scored by the front row.
The first arrived in the third minute, and it was a first of the evening for prop forward, Ryley Longmuir.
Bedford Athletic kept to a conservative game plan throughout, bringing in runners off their scrum half looking to minimise errors and keep possession.
A second try followed for second row Erran Singh-Soomal on 15 minutes, with Longmuir added his second four minutes later and surprisingly winger, Josh Cassell got in on the act with the bonus point try on 26 minutes.
None of these were converted and Bedford Athletic were 20-0 ahead at half time.
Bedford Athletic never relinquished control of proceedings and were first to score again after half time with hooker, Charlie Darlow crossing for the first of his two tries three minutes in.
There was some respite for the home side as they did manage a try of their own in the 50th minute through winger Ben Plowman, a try that was converted by fly half, Josh McAndrew.
This did at least mean that they did not end the evening with nothing to show for their contribution, but the scoring quickly resumed for the away side with Longmuir bringing up his unlikely hat trick in the 53rd minute.
To mark the occasion, fly half Louis Haley managed his sole successful conversion of the evening. There was time for Charlie Darlow to add a seventh try in the 66th minute before the referee brought an early end to a forgettable evening in the 72nd minute.
The win sees Bedford Athletic reach the half way point of the season, having won nine and lost two of their 11 games, with 46 points of a possible 55 secured.
Defeats to leaders, Market Harborough and fourth-placed Broadstreet puts them in second place, trailing Market Harborough by two points but leading Northampton Old Scouts and then Broadstreet by six and 10 points respectively, although Old Scouts do have a game in hand.
Peterborough are a further two points behind.
With the winner gaining promotion and places two to five securing a place in the end of season play-offs, there is all to play for when the second half of the season begins away to Daventry on Saturday (13 December) with a 2.15pm kick off.
Words by Jeremy Tyrrell
