Bedford Athletic won a closely contested local derby at Kettering 15-5 on Saturday (24 January) to stay ahead of their rivals in the race for a Regional Two East Midlands play-off spot.
They recovered from a 5-0 half time deficit with a much improved second half performance to edge away from their opponents and claim the win.
A series of unforced errors from the visitors gave all the early initiative to the home side.
They exploited this with a clever tactical kicking game from their fly half Evan Wyatt, turning the visiting defence and adding to the pressure.
In these early stages, Kettering forced a five metre scrum which they failed to take advantage of, and were held up over the line from a driving lineout.
They had enough territory and possession to score in the opening twenty minutes, but failed to do so, and eventually Bedford Athletic broke clear with a couple of strong carries from Andy Ince taking them to the other end of the field.
Once there, they were unable to create anything with Kettering halting a driving maul, and when Kettering cleared their lines this time they attacked with fluency and pace finding gaps down the left hand side of the field with winger Tom Connolly eventually crossing in the corner for an unconverted try on 25 minutes.
The half continued in a similar vein, with Kettering looking the more cohesive and energetic side, and by contrast Bedford Athletic struggling when carrying the ball into contact.
They did have one opportunity late in the half when from a quick tap penalty they looked to have found space down the right wing, but the pass to release the winger was thrown directly into touch and the opportunity was gone. Kettering led 5-0 at half time.
Bedford Athletic came out in the second half with a different mindset and a different stategy.
Aided by a cross wind that was marginally in their favour, they started to dominate territory with a well orchestrated kicking game that for the most part pinned Kettering back in their own half.
Fly half, Leo Mortimer and full back, Louis Haley were instrumental in this and with the territorial dominance they started to build pressure in the Kettering half on what was turning into a physical battle on a heavy pitch.
This strategy paid dividends on 48 minutes when Leo Mortimer was able to get Bedford Athletic on the scoreboard with a penalty in front of the posts.
Better was to follow on 54 minutes, when a penalty kicked to touch saw Bedford Athletic peel from the lineout into midfield.
Centre, Harry Sawford-Smith crashed the ball up to the line and this created the space out wide for Harrison Riley to cross on the left wing for an unconverted try.
Playing in the right areas meant the chances began to come Bedford Athletics’ way.
Harry Sawford-Smith was again hauled down just short of the line, and Ben Middleton and Charlie Darlow almost waltzed their way through the Kettering defence with a cunning interchange of passes only to pass to the Kettering full back at the end when it looked easier to score.
The score did come from another lineout catch and drive, that saw Andy Ince power through the maul and score a try converted by Mortimer on 68 minutes; a kick that took the Bedford Athletic first team beyond 49,000 points in their all-time record.
Bedford Athletic maintained the pressure to the end and when they elected to turn a penalty in front of the posts into a scrum for their now dominant pack, they once again suffered from their maul being held up short of the line depriving them of a further score.
The win restores the team into second place in the league, leading Northampton Old Scouts and Broadstreet by three points as the three sides jockey for second and third position and a home draw in the play-offs.
A critical game in this cause comes this Saturday (31 January) at Broadstreet.
Words by Jeremy Tyrrell
