Powerhouse Penny drops in for a quick Blues double

PACK power propelled Bedford to a resounding 43-14 victory over hapless Hartpury on Friday night.

The Blues were on top throughout as they put last week’s defeat to Cornish Pirates behind them.

And try-scoring prop Alex Penny has targeted silverware after getting their Championship Cup campaign back on track.

“It’s a real good chance to freshen some boys up from the league and give everyone a shot,” he said. “We take it very seriously – it was disappointing last week and we’re looking to kick on.

“I’ve been losing my hair the last few weeks at the results and it’s nice to get a bonus point win, so onwards and upwards to Irish next Sunday.”

Bedford were in complete control from the off. A penalty try after a maul was illegally stopped put them 7-0 up within seven minutes and also saw Hartpury No.8 Harry Holland yellow carded.

But fly-half Luke Cozens’ gamble paid off when he intercepted and streaked half the field, sliding in to score and then converting.

Parity was short-lived as Lane sliced through Hartpury’s defence and found Pat Tapley to score with Lewis Robling adding the extras.

Bedford then pushed Hartpury off their own scrum for Penny to touch down before Luke Stratford became the second Hartpury player sinbinned for a high tackle.

Penny was driven over for his second as Robling converted and knocked over a penalty on the stroke of half time for a 29-7 advantage.

The second half continued in the same vein as Harry Davies nipped in to score in the corner and Justin Blanchet forced his way over from close range, with Robling twice on target.

Mat Gilbert grabbed a late consolation for Hartpury, while Lane was sin-binned at the death for the hosts.

Cozens admitted Hartpury have their focus on the league. “Our heads are on surviving in this league,” he said. “The cup’s the cup, we’re never going to win it but we’ve got to try and keep building because we’ve got some big battles after Christmas and if we can pick up a couple of Ws it looks all a bit different.

“We knew from the beginning of the season we were the underdogs, and we’ve got to stick together and show that fight week in, week out. We showed it here in the league a few weeks ago, but not quite tonight.”