MONDAY VERDICT: Bedford Blues 36 Llanelli 24
Neil Roy's take on Blues' British & Irish Cup win on Saturday
The punters loved. The players weren't too sure.
But anyone who is worried about how boring and predictable rugby has become at the highest level should have been at Goldington Road to realise what it can be like.
Two teams with orders to attack from anywhere produced an eight try cracker: thrills, spills, sublime skills, sloppy mistakes and the sort of lung busting effort produced by the Bedford fly half Myles Dorrian in the dying minutes to prevent a Llanelli try and the bonus points that may have just kept them in the competition.
It might not have been as gripping or as intense as the 6-5 home defeat to Bristol earlier in the season. But it was certainly as competitive with the odd fight breaking out and two Llanelli players sent to the sin bin after different incidents in the second half.
Of course running with the ball is part of the Llanelli DNA going back to Phil Bennett and beyond. But with the Blues keen to play the same way the two teams produced a joyful expression of a beautiful game hardly seen these days in the premiership or international arena where aerial ping pong, drop goals and penalty shoot outs are the order of the day.
"It's all about intent," said the Blues President Gareth Davies who played for both clubs and who, as a child, attended the Sunday school where the great Llanelli rugby prophet Carwyn James was the teacher.
"This match showed that there is still a lot of space on the pitch if coaches want to use it," he added.
Before the match there was hardly any form and no one knew what sort of team clubs would field. What will happen when the competition gets to the business end and only the winner of four groups of six goes through remains to be seen.
It could go down to the sort of sums that saw Andy Murray knocked out of the ATP tennis; so bonus points are going to be vital.
In spite of acknowledging the entertainment value, most Bedford players were a bit frustrated because they nearly conceded two. "I was delighted that we played attractive rugby and that we scored five tries," said lock forward Alex Rae. "But I was worried that we conceded three tries – and nearly four - when we've been working hard on defence."
The no nonsense Rae finished off good work from scrum half Will Chudley and Dorrian for Bedford's third try that got them to half time at 21-21.
Chudley, returning to the side after a spell on the sidelines, was one of a handful of Bedford youngsters to shine. He also had a hand in full back Luke Fielden's score after 12 minutes before Llanelli hit back with two quick tries down the left wing.
Flanker Brett Daynes made the break that set up Bedford's second score for captain for the day Gregor Gillanders who ruled the line out. But Llanelli went ahead again when winger Andy Fenby pounced after a Bedford mistake.
The lead changed hands for the fourth time when Daynes touched down minutes after the restart. Dorrian missed the conversion but kicked superbly after a howler of a penalty early in the game.
So did his opposite number Dan Newton, part of a half back combination tipped for bigger things, and the number 10s exchanged penalties before the Blues clinched it when leading try scorer Fielden got his second just before the end after another exciting move.
The insouciant Dorrian converted, then saved a try and afterwards chewed the game over on the touchline with his parents who are on holiday from Wollongong, Australia.
"I've seen a few games over here,"said Ron Dorrian. "But that was the best. That is exactly the way rugby should be played."
Bedford Blues: Brown (Walsh), Locke (Richmond), Seal, Howard, Rae, Gillanders, Daynes (Lewitt), Goodman (Tupai), Chudley (Walshe), Dorrian, Knight, Roberts (Vass), Burke (Davey), Taylor, Fielden.
T&C MOM: Gregor Gillanders - inspired.
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Weather for Bedford
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
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Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
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