Resurgent Blues make it four wins on the bounce

BEDFORD Blues produced their most complete performance of the season to secure a commanding bonus point victory over Doncaster Knights.

A near perfect attacking performance was matched by heroism in defence as Blues continued their 2020 resurgence by securing a fourth successive home victory.

Doncaster’s travel sickness continued as Clive Griffiths’ side remain winless away from Castle Park this year, with their last victory on the road coming just before Christmas against bottom side Yorkshire Carnegie.

Blues head coach Alex Rae said: “Defensively, we were absolutely magnificent. The will to defend and get the ball back, especially against the wind in the first half, was a really pleasing factor.

“If we’re being picky, we would have liked a few more tries because we felt there was more out there. The effort was magnificent and if we defend like that, we’ll win more games than we lose.

“The boys are the ones who put the hard work in and long may it continue. We’ve got some tough games coming up, Newcastle away next, but there’s no reason we can’t go there and give that game a good go.”

Blues leapfrogged Doncaster into eighth position in the table with the bonus point win and they were on the board first after nine minutes thanks to the boot of Sam Leeming.

The home side had their first try just three minutes later when Oskar Hirskyj-Douglas drew in the Knights defence and offloaded to Joe Atkinson to score.

They had a 17-point advantage at half time when they crossed again on 25 minutes, this one a

Goldington Road classic to send Robbie Smith over.

Blues continued to press home their ascendency in the second half and had their bonus point wrapped up before 52 minutes had elapsed.

First, Ryan Hutler completed a crisp team move to score his tenth try of the season before scrumhalf Grayson Hart went quickly from a scrum penalty and completed Blues’ scoring.

Doncaster got a consolation try for their efforts just before the hour mark through centre Charlie Foley, but they couldn’t mount a comeback from there as Blues continued their recent run of good form.

Knights assistant coach Steve Boden commented: “We were really poor. We were lacklustre, showed a lack of energy, lack of emotion. We have to look at why this is happening because it’s the story of our season.”