Theres always the phrase in football asking if a team could do it on a cold and
rainy night in Stoke. In rugby, it’s a very cold and very rainy night in Bedford, as
the Blues welcomed Premiership side Bristol Bears for the fifth game of the
League Cup.
The Blues came into this game having been bathed by Bath 43-26, whilst the
Bears had made light work of East Anglian neighbours Ampthill 14-74. The twos
last game in the cup saw a similar outcome of a Bears smattering 67-19,
meaning Bedford had a score to settle.
The game started in the pressure the Blues hoped to exude for the foreseeable
as the Bears slow progress from the kick-off saw an early turnover for a
Bedford scrum. A clever kick in behind the Bristol 22 saw an early knock-on,
courtesy of Bejamin Elizalde a metre from his own tryline, but the officials were
none the wiser about it and allowed him to drive up to the halfway line with no
intervention from an absent TMO. Goldington Road made sure to notify the
referee swiftly and scornfully.
As the Blues had a good early feel to this game, their early efforts paid off in
the 15th minute through the opening try from hooker Nathan Langdon after fly-
half Will Maiseys attempted chip rolled dead. On conversion duty however, he
also missed the mark by some margin. Bedford 5-0.
The Bears continued to suffer as the weather picked up, getting picked up on
several penalties for not realising and continuous knock-ons. Maiseys clever
kicks continued from won lineouts and initial rucks, which won them a penalty
kicked right before Bristol’s corner.
At the 10-metre line, the line-out is won with a neat grubber kick soon after
into the try zone, which was met by Maiseys slippery antics to ground it before
it rolled out. He tucks the kick away that time, bringing the score to a very neat
12-0 halfway through the first half.
Minutes later, and it’s a cheap giveaway from the hosts. Starting with some
great defensive play after the restart, Bedford are pulled back for a five-meter
penalty, which Bristol scrum half Sam Wolstenhome quickly taps to power
through an unprepared defence. The first kick was up and through from Harry
Bazalgette to bring the score to 12-7 minutes before the half.
The late drama continued, as the Bears were found guilty once again for not
releasing during a high kick chase. Maisey elects for the posts once again and
was in foot form to make it 15-7 from just outside the 22, before the whistle
was sounded for the break minutes after.
Second half
With the players dried off, they got ready for their second shower as Maisey
got Bedford kicked off for second rower Josh Caulfield to attempt to catch in
the air, but it was missed for the immediate turnover.
Upon getting it back, Bristol immediately showed their change of game plan as
a box kick sees the ball kicked deep near Bedford’s tryline, forcing them to play
it out from far, and the roll dead sees the Bears make a change in the form of
former Irish international scrum-half Kieran Marmion.
Bedford continued an impressive handling of their opposition as winger Matt
Worley cut open the space in Bristol’s line to cover an impressive distance
before passing over to flanker Jac Arthur, who’s efforts may have seen him
plant the try, but an unselfish pass sees yet another knock on just in front of
the line.
After 50 minutes, it was clear it was going to be one of the better nights at the
Blues stadium. Bristol tries their own hand at running the ball from their own 5
metre, but for a team that previously hasn’t performed well on rainy nights
recently, it was a situation where they weren’t scared when they should be.
Bedford’s Worley was only just stopped from making it uglier for the visitors.
And a few minutes later, that was exactly the case. The hosts won a 5 metre tap
to make an initial charge for the line which was cut short by the Bears. Making
good use of space however, they found flanker Fred Tuilagi down the blindside
who was able to power over with ease.
Another missed kick from Maisey meant the score stayed at 20-7, meaning two
converted tries from Bristol would see a lead. But it looked a long way from
happening.
The attendance was signalled at just over 2,700, an impressive number for such
a drenching night, but almost all of them would be Blues fans, as every Bristol
score wouldn’t be obvious given the lack of their own supporters.
With the last 20 minutes of the game ticking away, Bristol’s defence became
much better suited to turning the ball over. Their continued possession won
them a penalty deep in Bedford’s 22, where Will Capon found Joe Owen from
the 5m lineout, and the maul is quickly set around the flanker. He finds Capon
again, and a magnificent show of strength puts the Bears over the line.
A remarkable kick from Bazalgette saw another seven added. 20-14, hold onto
your hats.
But Bristol didn’t, as a tired Steele Barker knocks on before playing the ball on
the ground to give away a penalty. Up steps Will Maisey, and its 23-14 from
over 40m out.
For the remaining ten, Bristol remained pinned back in their 22, trying their
hand at a series of unsuccessful kicks and chips, but Bedford continued their
defences right to the very end to see out the score, as the Championship side
best the Bears in ‘cupset’ fashion.
Bedford Assistant Coach, Jim Henry said: “We were disappointed not to get the
result which we probably deserved at Bath last week, so to come from Sunday
into a Friday and get the victory is really pleasing.” The perfect way to mark the
100th anniversary of this fixture.