Bedford Blues battled hard, but ultimately succumbed to a painful 35-30 loss at old rivals Coventry in the second round of Champ Rugby on Saturday, marking back-to-back losses to start the new rugby union season.
The Blues once again scored four tries, and picked up a second bonus point for the margin of defeat, but were outscored in an entertaining encounter at Butts Park Arena as Coventry came out on top.
The Blues’ performance was a far more accomplished one than last week’s hammering in the season’s opener against Ealing, and they finished far closer than in this fixture last season, where the Blues were resoundingly beaten 45-7.
Read: Bedford Blues blown away by reigning champions Ealing Trailfinders
Coventry were the first team on the board thanks to a try on seven minutes, as Tom Bacon finished off a flowing move and Josh Thomas with the extras, and it was almost double trouble for the Blues, but another dangerous Coventry attack was brought back for crossing.
Will Maisey kicked Bedford on to the scoreboard with a penalty; an incident that saw Jack Shine sin-binned for the hosts, but the Blues couldn’t make their man advantage count.
Both Maisey and Thomas exchanged further penalties before the Blues surged ahead for the first time.
Oisin Heffernan gained his second try in as many games off the back of the maul, before Nicholas Finch powered over after some patient build up play to give Bedford an eight point buffer.
That buffer was short-lived however as Coventry struck back on the brink of half-time courtesy of Peter Sullivan, although Bedford maintained a one point advantage at the break, leading 18-17.
Second half ends in agony
The second period began in hefty fashion as Coventry’s, Sam Maunder was shown a 20-minute red card for a high hit on George Worth, but despite that, the Blues came out of the traps slowly.
Coventry made them pay, as Morgan Strong gained his customary try against the Blues, before Josh Thomas extended the home side’s lead with a deserved try of his own.
It left Bedford 11 points behind and chasing the game again, but some Dean Adamson magic slimmed that lead down to six with another try in Blues colours, before Maisey added the extras to cut it to four.
With the home side back up to a full compliment, they turned to keeping Bedford at arms length; another penalty for Thomas slotting through the posts to move the score on to 32-25, but the Blues kept coming at them.
They could have been level with ten minutes to go, as Rory Ward smashed over a bonus point try for Bedford, but as Maisey missed the extras, the Blues remained two points behind.
Despite their best efforts, the Blues couldn’t find the killer instinct and it was that man Thomas who would have the last laugh with a 79th-minute penalty that put Coventry 35-30 ahead, and little time for the Blues to respond.
The loss leaves Bedford Blues in 10th on three points in these early knockings of an extended Champ Rugby, but the season is 26 games long, and all at Goldington Road know that their time will come amongst a very tricky start to the season.
Elsewhere, there was a shock in Gloucestershire, as Hartpury beat pre-season favourites, Worcester Warriors 28-25 and Ealing made no mistake in making them pay by scoring another half century of points in beating Chinnor 55-7.
Doncaster Knights comfortably saw off Cambridge 42-15, Ampthill made it two wins from two with a fantastic 26-21 victory against Cornish Pirates, while Caldy saw off league new boys, Richmond 27-21.
Nottingham are also two wins from two after beating London Scottish on Friday night.
Bedford Blues are back at Goldington Road next Saturday (18 October) as they host Hartpury, looking to get into the winners enclosure and kick start their season for good.
