Roosters are crowing after narrowly beating Tigers
Bedford beaten by St Ives
Bedford Tigers 30 St Ives Roosters 34
Bedford Tigers suffered their second defeat in a row and their first home reverse of the season against St Ives Roosters at the weekend.
The hosts had started well enough, as Darren Pickard made a solid break and his direct running paid dividends as the ball was shipped along the line for Ollie Francis to score. Rob Ashton then added the extras for an early 6-0 lead. Roosters struck back within five minutes though as a defensive error saw the visitors capitalise on a chip and chase to pull the scores back to 6-4.
And the visitors were soon ahead as they broke the line to touch down under the posts, with the resulting conversion making it 10-6.
This started a fiery 10-minute spell which saw Gary Flook and an opponent sin-binned, while a furry of injuries kept physio Ollie Richbell busy. Scott Aspinall eventually crossed the try-line and Ashton's marvellous touchline effort put Tigers 12-10 in front - the last time they would lead in the match.
Roosters battled back well and took the game to their hosts, moving 16-12 ahead at the break.
Another converted score straight after half time put them 22-12 in front, only for the Tigers to march up the other end to score after a great offload from Flook allowed Andy Champ to scythe through under the posts, with Ashton adding the extras to make it 22-18.
The match swung back and forth, but Roosters kept making the most of their forays forward, taking the score to 28-18, before Champ touched down yet again, with Ashton's successful kick making it 28-24.
Back came St Ives as they stretched their lead to 10 points with another converted try, but Tigers weren't beaten as Paul Ryder went over and Ashton brought them to within four points at 34-30.
Despite the hosts' pressure in the final minutes, and a red card for a Roosters player, Bedford couldn't break through again, as they tasted defeat on home soil for the first time this season.
Tigers: Tribbeck, Aspinall, Pickard, Francis, Hull, Walker, Ryder, Richbell, Champ, Flook, Wight, Baroux, Ashton, Murphy, Mudokwani, Taylor, Wheeler. T: Champ (2), Ryder, Francis, Aspinall. G: Ashton (5).
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Weather for Bedford
Tuesday 14 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 5 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 4 C to 10 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: North west
