Skivington impressed by Exiles’ character
A RETURN to the Premiership is coming slowly into view and the London Irish are getting good at staying on course.
This was a game the Exiles managed well. Bedford flickered, their usual tumultuous harmony evident, but Irish always had enough and seem set for a return to England’s top flight.
“We knew it would be hard,” said George Skivington, London Irish forwards coach. “We’ve played these guys three times this season, and we have massive respect for them.
“We were struggling with injuries, before and during the match. Our character got tested today; so this was a good win.”
Irish started well; forays into the Bedford 22 were repulsed only to be built again. But on ten minutes Jake Sharp’s reading of the game bore the first try.
Exiles fly-half Jacob Atkins, who has also worn a Blues shirt this season, span the ball out wide only for his opposite number Sharp to intercept and scamper forward. Ryan Hutler, the league’s leading try scorer, was riding shotgun and was quickly given the ball to race clear.
Irish hit back immediately, Brendan Macken the beneficiary as good groundwork set up the open space. Scrum-half Ben Meehan added the extra points before limping from the field. Irish had also lost Matt Williams in the warm-up and supplies were running short.
A couple of Sharp penalties pushed Bedford in front once more, and then on 30 minutes, a quick tap penalty from the effervescent James Lennon saw Ollie Hoskins given a yellow card for not retreating. Sharp landed the kick from right on the edge of his range.
Nine points was the difference and if Blues could have gone into the interval that far ahead, there might have been issues for the Exiles. But, crucially, impressive replacement scrum-half Scott Steele snuck through from short range and at half-time, the deficit was just four.
Irish began the second