Published: 31/10/2009 00:00 - Updated: 03/12/2009 11:48

Blues stumble once again

BY SIMON HUTCHINSON

BEDFORD BLUES 11

EXETER CHIEFS 20 BEDFORD tasted defeat for a second weekend on the trot as the league leaders took the spoils at Goldington Road.

Too many errors cost the Blues dearly in the first half and despite being the stronger team after the interval, they just didn’t have enough to break down the Chiefs defence.

“I thought that we were the only ones playing rugby,” said Blues flanker Alex Rae after the game.

“Errors cost us and we weren’t clinical enough when we had the ball in hand.

“Exeter came here and tried to get a front foot on the game, kick points when they could and unfortunately we helped them by coughing up the ball.

“The first half took a lot out of both teams but I thought that we looked fresh after the break and we started well but too many errors came in.

“We are really disappointed with the result especially after what happened last week as well. Hopefully the tide will turn when we go to the Cornish Pirates.”

The Blues found it difficult to get out of first gear during the opening 15 minutes as the visitors showed why they are topping the table with a perfect record.

Playing down the slope the Chiefs used it to their advantage as they strung phase after phase of play together and Richie Baxter really should have done better when he carried the ball along the line, but Myles Dorrian was there to put in a great tackle.

Bedford’s lineout was letting them down badly early on and Exeter probably couldn’t believe the amount of possession and territory that they were being given.

Exeter continued to push on and they got the games opening try in the 29th minute. The Chiefs were continually knocking on the door and a succession of scrums led to Tommy Hayes charging towards the try line and although he was held up, Haydn Thomas burrowed his way over the line and Gareth Steenson converted.

Steenson continued to put pressure on the Blues by kicking deep into the Bedford 22 and when Phil Boulton was penalised for coming through at a ruck the ball was put into touch and the process of a second try began.

Hayes was again involved as he took in the line out before the powerful pack drove over the line and James Scaysbrook popped up with the ball and Steenson again converted.

Things got no better for Boulton as he was sin binned, but the Blues suddenly sprung into life during stoppage time.

Rae, Ollie Dodge and Dorrian were all involved in taking the ball forward before John Harlock powered his way through a stunned Exeter defence. Paul Tupai and Sam Walsh both looked to gain an advantage, but the Chiefs were penalised for offside and James Pritchard converted the points as the whistle blew.

Whatever was said at the interval seemed to work and Pritchard added three more points when the Chiefs were caught offside yet again.

The Blues started to make the most of their possession and even when they lost the ball, big hits were still made as they scrambled to win it back.

The hard work paid off in the 52nd minute following a well worked scrum which saw Tupai break away and link up with Liam Roberts. Duncan Taylor – who continued his fine form from the game against Nottingham – carried the ball forward and following a nice move between Ben Lewitt and Dan Richmond the backs took over with the ball finally coming to Dodge to score, but it was a little out of Pritchard’s range.

Trailing by just three points the Blues started to get more adventurous in their play and instead of kicking away possession as they did in the first half, the ball was played wide to Taylor and Ian Davey to try and penetrate the back line.

The introduction of Dan Seal saw some brute force put into the front line, but the visitors were content to suck in the pressure and then kick to touch whenever needed.

Exeter made good territory in the 70th minute and Lewitt was harshly penalised for a deliberate knock-on when the ball popped out of a Chiefs scrum and Steenson made no mistake with his penalty kick.

Five minutes later and the Blues had a good opportunity to attack when a deliberate knock-on went their way and Dorrian kicked long to touch. The lineout ball was taken in well by Rae at the five metre line, but as a maul formed the ball fell to the ground and Exeter’s Matt Jess punted clear.

As the game went into stoppage time the Chiefs found the narrowest of gaps and broke clear, but a fine covering tackle from Dorrian forced a knock-on to relieve the pressure, but then the Blues fumbled at the scrum and the put in went Exeter’s way.

As the front rows engaged the scrum went down and referee Rob Debney awarded a penalty to the Chiefs and Steenson put the game out of reach with another successful kick.

Scorers. Bedford: Try; Dodge – Pen; Pritchard (2). Exeter: Tries; Thomas, Scaysbrook – Con; Steenson (2) – Pen; Steenson (2).

Teams. Bedford: Pritchard, Taylor, Dodge, Roberts, Davey (Knight 75), Dorrian, Vass (Walshe 65), Walsh, Richmond (Locke blood 30-37), Boulton (Seal 62), Harlock, Spencer, Rae, Lewitt, Tupai. Not used: Daynes, Casson, Davies.

Exeter: Lewis, Jess, Dollman (McKenzie 61), Cornwell, Foster, Steenson, Thomas (Stuart-Smith 72), Sturgess (Murphy 80), Clark (Alcott 61), Budgen, Bentley (Tomes 61), Hayes, Slade (Miller 41), Scaysbrook, Baxter. Not used: Moon.

Attendance: 3297