Bedford Blues remain second in Champ Rugby despite a narrow 18-13 loss at fellow play-off hopefuls, Hartpury on Saturday (31 January), in what was the Blues’ fourth league loss of the season.
Fyn Brown’s 18th minute try had helped give the Blues a 10-7 half-time lead, but a brace of scores from Harry Short scored the bulk of Hartpury’s points, while eight points from the ever reliable boot of Harry Bazalgette took the hosts over the line.
A pair of second half sin-bins also did the Blues no favours, as Hartpury continued their fine home record against Bedford with their third consecutive triumph over Mike Rayer’s men in Gloucestershire.
Confidence was high in the Blues camp following an entertaining 38-31 victory against Coventry at Goldington Road last weekend, but a victory for Hartpury this time round has closed up the play-off spots considerably.
Read: Bedford Blues battle back to maximum point victory against Coventry
It took a mere 90 seconds for the game’s first score after a mistake from the lineout by the Blues near their own try line, allowing Harry Short to walk in the simplest of his two scores.
On 17 minutes, the Blues were level after an excellent carry from Oisin Heffernan ended in a pop inside to Fyn Brown who crashed over in the corner, and with Maisey’s excellent conversion from the sidelines, Bedford were level at 7-7.
Maisey’s penalty to give the visitors the half-time lead was equally as adept, as the Blues took a 10-7 lead into half-time.
Pair of yellows damage the Blues
It didn’t take long for Hartpury to set their stool out at the second half, as they were back in front after 53 minutes with Short scoring his second try of the game, but it was a pair of sin-bins that really damaged the Blues as they looked for a route back in.
The first came for Tommy Herman for a deliberate trip on Bazalgette, and they were briefly down to 13 men as Archie Appleby was shown a yellow card on 70 minutes, as Bedford played the final quarter without a full compliment of players.
Despite their indiscipline, the scoreboard remained in touch for the Blues as they entered the last ten minutes of the game 15-10 down.
Hartpury have been victims of late shows when it comes to Bedford Blues in recent years, and perhaps with that in mind, Bazalgette pinged a penalty home on 75 minutes to put the Blues more than a score away.
Maisey responded in kind to give Bedford a losing bonus point, with Tom Worts’ final game-ending tackle the final act of the game, with Hartpury climbing up the table into fourth after their fifth win in six games.
For the Blues, its far from panic stations, as they remain second in the table, a full 17 points behind Ealing Trailfinders who have already all but confirmed their status as champions again with a 15th win from 15 games.
Elsewhere, Worcester Warriors closed to within two points of the Blues with a 41-14 win at Ampthill, Chinnor were once again impressive victors at Coventry, while there were also wins for Caldy, Doncaster Knights and London Scottish.
The Blues are back in action in just six days time, as they welcome local rivals, Ampthill to Goldington Road under the Friday night lights on 6 February.
