Bedford Athletic secured another bonus point win with a 31-23 success away to Oadby Wyggestonians on Saturday (22 November).
Although they trailed 13-12 at half time they were always in control of the game and ran out comfortable winners.
The first half started in difficult conditions with heavy rain making matters hard for both sides, and it was no surprise that the first points were a long range penalty from the boot of home fly half Henry Cooke, giving Oadby the lead in the eighth minute.
However. the visitors were starting to assert themselves in many areas of the game, not least a commanding scrum performance led by prop Ryan Taylor, and as they imposed themselves both in attack and defence, and it was no surprise when they scored the first try.
This came in the 19th minute, and was a first try for new full back and skills coach, Charlie Reed, converted by fly half Lewis Haley.
In fact, it was the boot of both Haley and Reed that was giving Bedford Athletic good field position and playing in the opposition half was helping them control the game.
A second try soon followed, as this time wing Josh Cassell profited to touch down for his 147th try in 195 games for the Ath; Haley this time missing the conversion kick.
The benefit of a strong kicker was demonstrated when Cooke again slotted a penalty from distance to keep Oadby in the contest, and a booming kick from the same player directly led to the opening try for the home side.
His kick that seemingly drifted out of play over the dead ball line was deemed to have been touched by a Bedford player and a five-metre scrum was awarded.
Oadby did not spurn the surprise opportunity to put such direct pressure on the visiting side and a series of drives resulted in a try for home number eight, Lewis Jones which converted by Cooke gave Oadby an unlikely 13-12 half time lead.
Bedford Athletic wasted no time in reasserting their superiority at the start of the second half.
Four minutes after the restart, Rob Watkins crossed for a third try converted by Haley, and although Cooke quickly pulled a penalty back for the home side, it was Charlie Reed who struck for the bonus point try which when converted by Haley stretched the visitors lead out to 26-16.
Bedford Athletic remained in control of the match, with Lewis Sharp proving a constant threat in the forward pack, Rob Watkins leading the defensive effort in a man of the match performance and Tom Davis adding threat and danger from outside centre.
These efforts paid off with a fifth try on the hour mark from captain Steve Smith.
Unlike in previous weeks, the visiting team maintained concentration and composure almost to the end of the match and it was only a late flurry of penalties that provided the opportunity to Oadby for a second try which they took, being scored by second row Neil McBride.
Cooke’s conversion narrowed the score to 31-23, but it was not enough to secure the home side anything from the game.
The result sees Bedford Athletic maintain second place, two points behind league leaders Market Harborough ahead of a slightly different home game being played this Friday (28 November) against near neighbours Olney with a 7.30pm kick off.
Words by Jeremy Tyrrell
