Excellent win for Bedford Tigers over rivals Hemel Stags

Bedford Tigers 54 Hemel Stags 14

It was East Premier League action for Bedford Tigers at the weekend, with a match against fierce rivals Hemel Stags, played in good spirits.

The game started with the Tigers having a decent breeze at their backs and the team featuring regulars, a few returning from injury and new players, who immediately bonded well.

The game was perhaps more even than the score suggests but Tigers were more clinical and had more moments of outstanding individual skill. Five tries were chalked up in the first half, against their opponents two, with Palmer, Moon, Marshall, Hearne dotting down and Ryan Litchfield, who ran powerfully all game, scoring the first of his two tries for the afternoon.

The second half was a similar story. Wind against did little to dampen Tigers excellent attacking play and the scoreboard kept ticking over. Viller and Hill scored good tries, along with Litchfield's second but an outstanding individual effort from Dario Nangle stood out. Alex Smith scored the final try and with seven conversions, achieved a personal tally of eighteen points in a comprehensive victory.

An excellent start to this competition then, with the real prospect of challenging for this title for Tigers, should they keep up this form.