Success for Bedford Tigers at Silverbacks

Bedford Tigers Rugby League team travelled away to South London Silverbacks on Saturday, returning to their highest level of competition, The Southern Premier League. Happily, it was a long trip worth making, as the team gained their first win of the season, despite a few late scares.

Silverbacks started the scoring, the size of their pack gaining them a 6-0 lead. Tigers were quick to hit back however, showing greater attacking style to get top scorer Josh Hudson-Lett over in the corner. Tigers soon added another score, their superior speed around the ruck and shape around the ball causing issues on every attack, this time Josh Spearing taking on the line and scoring under the posts and converting for a 10-6 lead.

Silverbacks soon replied, on the back of Bedford errors, before Bedford took the lead again with Spearing setting up Bailey Thomas, who's clever kick saw him score a superb try. Again Silverbacks hit back before Bedford ensured they held the lead at half time, as Alex Tollan outpaced the defence for his first try of the season. Half time, 20-18 Tigers.

The second half was a tale of two quarters, Bedford coming out of the blocks quickly. The kicking game caused havoc, Bailey Thomas out jumping the silverbacks fullback and setting up Josh Hudson-Lett for another double this season. Later in the half, returning Sam Martindale who along with Alex Lovell had terrorised the ruck defence of the home side all game, got his reward with a short range score.

In the last 20 minutes Bedford couldn't finish off the opposition. Poor ball control and discipline putting the side under relentless pressure. Silverbacks therefore got another score on the board to get within four points and create an extremely tight finish. The home side got one more opportunity with a huge chunk of fortune on the last play, the ball bouncing back off the bar into the chasing players' arms. Miraculously, Bailey Thomas held the player up over the goal line to win the game for Tigers 28-24.

Tigers will look to perform much better next weekend and again take the points, as they travel for a further Southern Premier fixture at Colchester's Eastern Rhinos.