Blues take advantage of Hartpury indiscipline

A CLINICAL second-half performance from Bedford was more than enough to see off a Hartpury team which fell short of the standards that they have set themselves this season.

Hartpury didn’t help themselves with their indiscipline – which saw them give up three times as many penalties as their opponents – and kept the visitors on the front foot for most of the second 40.

“It was great to see the way we fronted up after last week’s loss at Richmond,” said Bedford forwards coach, Sean McCarthy. “Control was something we had spoken about in the week and halfbacks gave us that in spades,” he said.

Neither side started the game well, as handling errors and inaccuracies plagued the opening phases and it took 22 minutes for the first try, from a penalty kicked to touch by Will Maisey. Tui Uru eventually drove over for the opening score.

Hartpury produced a perfect response almost straight away, when a break through the Blues midfield allowed Robbie Smith to score, and things got better for the Red & Blacks two minutes later.

An attacking lineout, after a rare transgression from the Blues, was driven over by the home pack – Will Crane the scorer – and, despite a missed conversion, Hartpury were 12-7 to the good.

However, Blues continued to look the more composed of the teams and it was no surprise when the visitors’ drive returned the favour in the 35th minute, Reece Marshall awarded the points.

Blues’ narrow half-time lead did not last long, as Crane bundled over for his second on 43 minutes – but that was to be as good it got for the home team. Bedford quickly restored the advantage when centre Ethan Grayson picked a great line to burst through the midfield to find an open path to the try-line.

Five minutes later a clever kick behind the Hartpury three-quarters put the ball on a plate for winger Dean Adamson and, with Hartpury struggling to get any foothold in the game, Bedford drove home their advantage.

Replacement Jordan Onojaife crossed from close range before Adamson picked up his second – again from a kick behind. Maisey was 100 per cent from the tee, converting all six Bedford tries.

“It was a very disappointing performance after a good start to the season,” said Hartpury director of rugby, John Barnes. “Too much indiscipline and too many individual errors – Bedford were able to dictate that game, particularly after half time.”