Bedford Blues kept up the pace on the Championship’s top two with a dramatic last-minute 22-20 victory at London Scottish on Sunday (15 December) at the Richmond Athletic Ground.
Will Maisey’s 79th minute penalty secured a wonderful comeback after a tepid first half saw Mike Rayer’s side 17-0 down and up against it, before tries from John Stewart, Luke Frost and Joe Howard dragged the Blues back into the game.
Maisey’s penalty with what was almost the final kick of the encounter completed another Bedford Blues comeback, and not for the first time this season.
It took 18 minutes for the deadlock to be broken in the capital thanks to the boot of Scottish fly-half, Alec Lloyd-Seed but it wasn’t long before they found the whitewash as Sean Kerr flew over for the game’s first try.
Moments later, the lead was increased as Austin Wallis finished off a flowing move out wide in the corner and with Lloyd-Seed adding the extras, Bedford Blues were once again facing an uphill task at 17-0 down.
John Stewart scored his second try in Blues colours just before the break to give Bedford something from a first half that lacked composure and penetration as they faced another forty minutes of game salvation.
Blues character shines again
Fixtures against Hartpury at Goldington Road and in Penzance against Cornish Pirates already this season spring to mind when describing another clash where the Blues pulled a victory from the jaws of defeat.
It was Scottish who extended their lead ten minutes into the second half, once again via the boot of Lloyd-Seed, but from there, the Blues stepped on the gas and it was a surge that Scottish could not hold off.
Persistent Bedford pressure saw one penalty too far given for the referee who sent Zach Carr to the sin bin, and the Blues made their numerical advantage count immediately as Luke Frost bundled over to reduce the deficit to ten points.
Still the Blues pressed forward, and Scottish were lucky not to be down to thirteen men after more penalty concessions but it didn’t perturb Joe Howard who crashed over, and when Maisey slotted the conversion, all of a sudden it was a one point game.
The clock was ticking towards the red and while Will Maisey missed one opportunity to steal the game from the kicking tee, he made amends with the second as he slotted in a penalty to seal another dramatic 22-20 win for the Blues.
Coventry lose out
This victory means Bedford Blues have won six of their eight Championship fixtures, with their two losses coming against the top two, Coventry and Ealing; the latter climbing to the summit after Coventry’s perfect record was scuppered at Cornish Pirates.
A resurgent Pirates saw off Coventry comfortably, 46-14 on Saturday while Ealing made the most of Coventry’s slip up with an almighty 95-7 thrashing of Cambridge that sees them three points clear at the top of the table.
Elsewhere, Doncaster Knights beat winless Caldy 22-0 while Nottingham – hot on the heels of Bedford Blues in fourth – slid past Chinnor 19-15 on Friday night.
The division’s other game between Ampthill and Hartpury at Olney Field was abandoned in the first half with the away side leading 14-0 after referee, Alex Thomas appeared to be knocked out by the ball after a clearance kick from Hartpury’s, Harry Bazalgette.
That fixture will be rearranged.
