Poor second half sees Bedford Athletic suffer Shelford defeat
Bedford Athletic were well beaten at home by Shelford in Regional Two Midlands East on Saturday, going down to a 41-12 defeat.
The hosts got on the front foot early on, as some early penalties gave them access to the Shelford 22, and following a series of drives, prop Ryley Longmuir eventually crossed for the opening try with five minutes gone, converted by Beau Stenson.
Athletic remained the dominant force with two further attacking lineouts in the visitors' 22, neither of which led to scores and a string of penalties that kept Shelford under pressure.
This led to a sin binning for back row Luca Martinelli on 17 minutes, as with a man advantage, Bedford opted for several scrums from penalties in attacking positions, but again could not find a way over the visitors’ line, the best chance seeing Alex Edun switch play where Freddie Wells was brought down just short.
Shelford survived the man disadvantage and restored to 15 men on the half hour mark, finally got their attacking game going.
A quick tap penalty saw them break through the home defence, where Ned Westbrook won the race to the line to make it 7-5 at the break.
The second period was a completely different affair as Shelford started with an intensity and purpose that Bedford Athletic could not match and eventually could not live with.
The slide began when the team were penalised for holding on trying to run the ball out of defence, George Cracknell rumbling over the line, as Ath were then undone by a break from deep within his own half by centre Matt Reaney, who won a quick tap penalty, Cracknell crossing for the third try on 49 minutes, fly half Harvey Taylor converting.
Under pressure the home side were now error and penalty prone in multiple areas, Shelford constantly breaking tackles and running into space.
They had a bonus point when hooker Mike Dunnett touched down, as the referee was becoming increasingly impatient with the home side’s offending under pressure and Ryszard Hill was sent to the sin bin on the hour.
Shelford then opened up the home defence for full back Theo Aubrey to race home from distance through several half-hearted tackles on 65 minutes, converted by Taylor.
The home side then stood and watched as Taylor threaded a ball behind the defence for wing Hamish Westbrook to run onto and score on 68 minutes, as the rout was completed by Harry Chater, Taylor adding the extras.
Ath did grab the final try as a crossfield kick picked out wing Edun who narrowed the deficit to 41-12.
Bedford visit Old Coventrians on Saturday.