Published: 11/12/2009 00:00 - Updated: 02/01/2010 09:47

Albion spoil Blues Christmas party

BY SIMON HUTCHINSON

BEDFORD BLUES 16 PLYMOUTH 19
It was meant to be the Christmas special at Goldington Road yesterday afternoon, but the cracker certainly didn’t bang as the Blues suffered another defeat.

The festive period is the time of goodwill, but referee Luke Pearce wasn’t in the sharing mood as he blew up for time just ten seconds into stoppage as Bedford were looking to attack and overturn a late Ben Mercer try.

To be fair, the ref was the least of the problems as once again too many handling errors and dropped ball cost Bedford dearly whereas the visitors took their opportunities to record, what was for them, a famous win.

“We were down in the dumps following last weeks result but for that to happen was a real kick in the guts,” said bitterly disappointed fly half Myles Dorrian after the game.

“Most teams are playing ‘stick it up your jumper’ rugby which is the winter way over here and maybe we should just start doing that a bit more.

“The bottom line was that there were too many dropped balls. Their try in the first half was our mistake, but they created a little bit more after the break. We should have held out though.

“We need to bounce back from this quickly.”

The opening 40 minutes may not have been a rugby classic but there was plenty of action and a hell of a lot of missed chances.

You always know that the Plymouth pack is going to be organised to military precision and they will look to drive on as much as possible, whenever possible.

Likewise, you know that Bedford’s backs like to keep the ball in hand and execute training ground moves when the time is right and the chances present themselves.

Unfortunately, despite both teams executing their preferences well, the occasional error or over eagerness brought moves to a stop far too often.

Plymouth’s Alex Davies will be disappointed that he didn’t convert two penalty attempts in the opening ten minutes when Albion were certainly the dominant force. Bedford were pulled up for not releasing and an infringement at the ruck, but they were given two lifelines by the misfiring fly half.

They may have been off the pace to begin with, but Bedford started to make ground and although Dorrian hit the post with a penalty kick in the 11th minute, he made up for it with a well struck effort 17 minutes in.

After early exchanges of aerial ping-pong the Blues started to keep hold of the ball and put phases together. Nick Walshe was on fine form controlling the ball with Ian Vass and Liam Roberts making an impact. Although the move broke down, the ref was playing an advantage for offside and Dorrian slotted the three points.

Bedford’s backs were certainly in a groove but another unfortunate handling error allowed the visitors straight back into the game. As Walshe, Dorrian, Vass and Ollie Dodge looked to spark another attack, the ball fell loose and Albion winger Liam Gibson showed excellent footballing skills, before collecting and charging for the line to score, but Davies failed with the conversion.

Again Bedford looked lively in attack in the 28th minute with an excellent training pitch move. Luke Fielden switch to number nine and as he fed the scrum, Paul Tupai ignited the move by breaking off and giving Fielden the ball. Dodge and Ian Davey had already moved to the blindside, so the pacey trio set off for the line but Davey knocked on at the final moment.

Mark Lee took over the kicking for Plymouth and he made no mistake with an effort eight minutes before the interval when the Blues were penalised for holding onto the ball at a ruck.

Bedford should have responded with points when Davey made a superb break along the wing and released Roberts. The forwards surged on but Mr Pearce spotted a knock on and Plymouth were given a lucky escape as the half finished 6-8.

A good start was needed after the break, but it was Plymouth who started brighter with Lee converting an early effort after the Blues infringed at the scrum. A bout of handbags followed a few moments later but the penalty went Bedford’s way and Dorrian reduced the deficit to two points again.

Bedford then gave away a silly penalty after Fielden had a kick run down. Just ten metres from their line they were adjudged to have crossed and Lee dispatched his third penalty of the day.

The visitors were certainly enjoying their day and were running the Blues ragged with Gibson being one of the main threats along the winger and skipper Kyle Marriot rampaging forward from his number 8 position.

Despite being on the back foot, Bedford suddenly sparked into life in the 73rd minute as Gregor Gillanders hurtled along the touchline before cutting inside. Brad Davies and John Harlock both carried the ball on from the ruck before Walshe and Davies combined to play in Dorrian with the Australian sidestepping a tackle and scoring under the posts giving Davies a simple conversion.

But the slenderest of leads and the game slipped through Bedford’s hands five minutes later.

A scrum five metres out was superbly challenged by the Blues and as they drove Plymouth backwards and raised their front row the ref blew his whistle. Most expected a penalty in Bedford’s favour, but he spotted a knock on and reset the scrum much to the Blues annoyance. Plymouth’s forwards went through the motions before several drives followed and finally the ball was sent wide to Mercer to score and although the conversion was wide the game was won.

Teams. Bedford: Fielden (Pritchard 74), Dodge, Roberts, Vass (Davies 71), Davey, Dorrian, Walshe, Seal (Walsh 59), Richmond (Locke 59), Boulton, Howard, Rae (Harlock 62), Gillanders, Goodman, Tupai (Harding 71). Not used: Chudley.

Plymouth: Lee, Mercer, Fisilau (Hopper 68), Tu’ipulotu, Gibson, Davies (Hallet 68), Cushion, Porter (Porte 71), Clark (Owen 4), Hopkins, Lewis (Hotson 74), Skelding, Sprangle (Clayton 80), Watts-Jones, Marriot. Not used: Kingdom.

Attendance: 2353