Forwards provide perfect platform for Blues

LOCK Ed Taylor was one of five try scorers for Bedford, as they comfortably saw off Hartpury on a freezing Friday night in a match they controlled almost from start to finish.

This was in no small part down to their forwards, who were all over their opponents at set-pieces and at the breakdown, with three scores from the Blues pack also giving the ideal platform.

Taylor said: “It makes a change because normally it’s our backs who get most of the tries, so we can go into analysis next week with our heads held high.

“We just got told to keep it simple with everyone’s hands being cold.”

Prop Camilo ParilliOcampo opened the scoring for Bedford after nine minutes by plunging over from close range, as the hosts dominated the opening half.

With Hartpury lock Joe Quinn in the sin bin, Jarad Williams bundled his way over for the Blues’ second try before Taylor added to their lead before half-time.

Will Tanner got the visitors off the mark after 56 minutes as he broke off a driving maul, but Bedford hit straight back when Rich Lane got on the end of a deft kick by Alex Rae to secure the bonus point.

The hosts didn’t take their foot off the gas, as Jordan Burns sent fellow replacement Michael Le Bourgeois through a gap for his side’s fifth try.

Hartpury No.8 Iain Grieve said: “Credit to Bedford, they’re a good outfit and came at us with everything.”