Bedford Blues survived an almighty scare from Champ Rugby’s bottom club, Cambridge but eventually battled back to scrape a 29-28 victory at Goldington Road on Saturday (6 December) to extend their unbeaten run in Champ Rugby to seven games.
The Blues fought back from an abject first half in which Cambridge took an 11-point advantage into the sheds, but the introduction of trusted Blues stalwarts steered Mike Rayer’s side to a maximum points win to keep up the pace on the top two.
The Blues kept their unbeaten run heading into this derby clash thanks to last Friday night’s dramatic draw at Lady Bay, in which George Worth’s 79th-minute try and subsequent conversion from Will Maisey rescued a 28-28 draw against Nottingham.
Read: Bedford Blues salvage a draw from the jaws of defeat at Nottingham
Life for winless Cambridge is looking a touch more bleak; last Saturday’s 61-14 home defeat against Worcester was an eighth defeat in eight league games and their luck continued to evade them here, despite nearly pulling off an almighty shock at Goldington Road.
A new look Blues line-up included the likes of Joe Hill and Billy Pasco in the backs, while George Worth was picked at full-back and Tom Price came in for Will Maisey in the number ten jersey. There were even more changes employed in the pack.
It contributed to a slightly disjointed start, with an injury stoppage for Dan Eckersley the only talking point from an opening ten minutes more notable for its kicking than its magic.
In the 11th minute however, the Blues were in front.
Michael Le Bourgeois began the move, breaking through two tackles in midfield, and the ball was worked out left to find Archie Benson who broke through another red shirt to stretch over the whitewash.
Cambridge hit back
A concerted period of Cambridge pressure followed, culminating in a rapid break from Ruaridh Dawson with his radar set firmly for the posts, but he was brought down inches away, and his pass left was spilt by a Cambridge teammate.
Bedford were on hand to make them pay with their next foray forward, as James Lennon scored the the Blues’ second try, although Price missed a second conversion.
Cambridge hit back immediately as Billy Walker crashed over for a converted try on his 100th appearance for the Blood and Sand, and it put the visitors back within three points at 10-7, before Jack Doorey-Palmer tumbled over to put the visitors in front.
A penalty try extended the advantage to 21-10 with two minutes left on the first half clock, and merely served to put the cat amongst the pigeons, with the Blues thankful for the half-time whistle as they followed sin-binned Rory Ward into the changing rooms.
Perhaps surprisingly, only one change was made at half-time; Sonny Tonga’uiha replacing Monty Royston for the Blues, who went on start the half brightly enough, although an early chance to reduce the deficit fell short in front of the posts.
Bedford’s early second half efforts were punctuated by ill discipline, which soon prompted a turn to the old guard as Woolford, Jack, Herman, Maisey and club captain, Alex Day all entered the fray in an attempt to inject some fresh legs.
The changes paid dividends as the third try was scored within moments.
The ball worked its way out left to Tui Uru to scramble over, and with the newly-introduced Maisey pinging a wonderful conversion, the deficit was reduced to just four points.
Herman and Tuilagi saves Blues blushes
Whether it was gamesmanship or otherwise, the Cambridge players began to go down injured in an attempt to curb the growing sense of a Blues resurgence, and the break in play allowed them a rare chance to escape up the field to give the Champ’s basement club some respite.
But still the Blues kept coming – and still the Cambridge players hit the deck – although their defensive effort when the ball was in play was to be lauded, despite their efforts made all the more difficult as Eckersley was shown a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on.
And with that, the Cambridge resistance cracked.
It wasn’t until the 69th minute that it did so; yet another line out from the near side ended with replacement, Herman crashing over the try line, and Maisey’s conversion gave the Blues a slender 24-21 advantage.
To their credit, Cambridge tried to come back at the Blues but they soon lost possession, and Bedford were swift in handing out the killer blow, as the ball was flowed out left again and into the path of Fred Tuilagi who soared clear to add the finishing touches.
Cambridge would have the final say as an excellent try from Edward Timpson secured both the bonus point for four tries, plus a second losing bonus point that their overall performance deserved, but the Blues took maximum points with a 29-28 triumph.
It’s as important a win as there may be this season, as Ealing maintained their perfect Champ Rugby record with a 38-0 win over Caldy, whilst second placed Worcester saw off Cornish Pirates 40-24.
Coventry mauled London Scottish 61-10, while Ampthill picked up a much-needed win in the capital with a 25-20 triumph over Richmond, whilst the division’s most entertaining clash came in Gloucestershire as Hartpury and Doncaster Knights shared a 33-33 draw.
The Blues are back to Friday night action next weekend as they make their longest journey of the season to Cornish Pirates, before a vital clash back at Goldington Road, as the Blues welcome Worcester Warriors on 20 December.
