Mike Rayer has warned his Bedford Blues players that they will find themselves sitting on the sidelines if they cannot keep their discipline after last Sunday’s loss at Leeds Carnegie.
The Blues director of rugby was left frustrated by his team’s repeated indiscretions, particularly offsides, that saw them fall foul of referee Dave Pearson throughout the contest.
That allowed Leeds full back Tommy Bell to boot seven penalties which accounted for all of the home side’s points in the 21-17 victory at Headingley, and Rayer was unhappy with those errors.
He said: “The players need to put it right or consequently they won’t be selected.
“We work so hard, particularly on our back-foot discipline, but for whatever reason last weekend we incurred the wrath of the officials.
“That’s something that we have been really good at avoiding, but in two away games in a row we’ve given away in excess of 15 or 16 penalties which you’re not going to win a game away from home with.
“We’ve given away four or five really cheap ones that have ultimately cost us the game. It’s a painful lesson to go through, particularly after Doncaster.”
The Blues had led at half time and scored the only try of the game through Ian Vass, and aside from their ill-discipline Rayer was generally happy with what he saw from Bedford.
“I was really pleased with the performance and I thought we were absolutely magnificent at times,” he said.
“We were aggressive in defence and, to be honest, Leeds never looked like scoring a try. They didn’t really threaten us at all which makes it even more frustrating.
“There were some obvious penalties and the boys coming off the bench conceded at least four or five penalties between them when they came on, and that’s just not acceptable.
“I appreciate that they’re enthusiastic and want to get on and make a difference, but there were some crazy ones. Notwithstanding that, there were at least nine points given away which we didn't need to.”
The Blues will have to wait until next weekend before they get the chance to put things right after yesterday’s scheduled clash with Plymouth Albion was postponed due due to a frozen pitch.
They will now go head-to-head at Goldington Road on Saturday (2pm), where a win could see Bedford move back up to second in the Championship table.
With a play-off place secured, all there is to play for in the final three games is a position, to determine what group they will be in, and earning points to take forward.
Rayer has still set his team several targets for these matches though, and feels they are still on course despite the knock back suffered in Yorkshire.
He said: “We’re still on track to hit the goals we set for ourselves between now and the end of the season.
“It’s slightly disappointing and it’s a bit of a setback, but there were some real positives in that game.
“Our line-out didn’t function and our discipline was poor, and they need to get better – simple as that.
“But the other thing people have got to bear in mind is that it was absolutely atrocious conditions up there.
“It was the worst pitch I’ve seen since I’ve been here. It was unbelievably bad and then it rained come kick-off.
“We played really well in the first half and for whatever reason couldn’t get our hands on the ball in the second half, yet we still could have won that game.
“Our defence was magnificent and if we had just stayed onside and not given penalties away then we would have forced turnovers and had them under control.”
