RUGBY: Bedford Blues 50-14 Barbarians
Impressive Bedford trounce Barbarians
An impressive Bedford Blues side thumped Barbarians 50-14 in the 83rd Mobbs Memorial Match.
After a sloppy start, the game soon got going and after an equal first half Bedford dominated the second with 36 unanswered points.
Mike Rayer named a strong line-up with former Northampton Saints number eight Ben Lewitt captaining the side.
The most notable inclusion in the Baa-Baas team was that of David Slemen and Sam Beaumont, sons of England's 1980 Grand Slam heroes Mike and skipper Bill respectively.
In perfect conditions the game took a while to get going with both teams making some early mistakes.
Ian Davey started the game brightly with a couple of bursts into the Barbarians half but the defence stood firm.
It wasn't until the 24th minute when Bedford finally broke the deadlock.
From a line out deep inside the opponents' half, Blues worked the ball well to Brendan Burke, who ran through a gap in the defence to score under the posts.
A simple conversion for Brad Davies gave Bedford a 7-0 lead.
It took only four minutes for the Baa-Baas to respond as Bedford dropped the restart allowing the Barbarians to pile on the pressure.
After minutes of continuous pressure, the scores were level thanks to a converted try from Melvyn Lewis.
Soon after the Barbarians were ahead when debutant Tim Catling intercepted a pass and ran from his own half to score. Jimmy Richards added the extras.
Bedford looked like going into the break behind but for a superb try in injury time at the end of the first-half.
Davey collected the ball on his own five metre line and went on a mazy run into the Baa-Baas half beating several players.
He had support and the ball was moved on to Lewitt who had the easy task to run under the posts and square up the game at the break.
Bedford came out flying in the second half and had constant possession in the Barbarians half.
Their pressure finally told as Harry Allen, 30 seconds after coming on as a sub, went over in the corner after 53 minutes.
Davies just missed the conversion from out wide.
Ten minutes later the Blues made it 26-14 when a burst from wing Corey Hircock gave them territory, which led to a second Lewitt try.
Five minutes later James Knight got in on the act as he went through under the posts giving Davies a simple kick.
More Bedford pressure resulted in a further try in the 72nd minute.
Some good work from the hosts allowed substitute Will Chudley to go over in the corner and extend the lead to 38-14.
There was still time for two more tries as a brilliant break away gave Duncan Taylor the chance to score a seventh Blues try.
Luton man Mark Kohler scored the final try and it was another well-worked move.
Bedford worked the ball all the way from the right to the left. Where Kohler was in acres of space to secure a fine win.
Blues: Taylor, Hircock (Veenendaal 74), Burke (Roberts 52), Knight, Davey (Kohler 55), Davies, Veenendaal (Chudley 40), Cecere, Locke (Seal 52), Boulton (Allen 52), Harlock, Rae (Spencer 68), Harding (Micans 66), Daynes, Lewitt.
Referee: Ashley Rowden
Attendance: 1,205
Star Blue: Ian Davey – caused problems with his bursts
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Weather for Bedford
Saturday 26 May 2012
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Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
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