Following the elation of a first-ever competitive win, Bedfordshire Blue Raiders were brought crashing back down to earth with a 35-0 defeat to Cambridgeshire Cats on Sunday.

Having opened their first-ever British American Football League (BAFL) campaign with defeat against the Colchester Gladiators on April 12, Raiders hit back to record a morale-boosting 12-6 win over Watford Cheetahs a fortnight later.

In the game against Watford, it took time for both teams' offences to settle into the game, with all the points coming in the fourth quarter. Raiders took the lead when they ran the ball home from just a yard out after a 66-yard drive down the pitch.

That joy was short lived though as the Cheetahs ran the ball 68 yards from the kick-off return to score a touchdown.

However, with less than three minutes to go, Matt Smith caught a touchdown pass to seal victory for Bedfordshire.

On Sunday, meanwhile, Raiders had a day to forget as they were outclassed by Cambridgeshire Cats.

The defeat was a bitter pill to swallow for coach Chris Wallis, who was returning to the club he guided to 47 wins in 69 games.
Raiders struggled right from the outset and could not cope with the Cats.

Wallis' men will be hoping to bounce back when they host Peterborough Saxons on Sunday, kick-off 2.30pm.