Youth Rugby: Beds batter East Northants

Historically a close encounter, Beds’ swift backs eventually prevailed over the big Northants pack.

The coaching staff had worked the lads hard and Wednesday night’s game showed how it had all come together.

With nearly a full squad back fit competition was fierce. Beds took the lead on 14 minutes when Ross Endersby won a lineout and quick hands from Cameron Furneaux and Ben Slavinski released Harry Sawford-Smith on the wing to score an unconverted try out wide.

Ten minutes later Sawford-Smith was stopped, but Beds crossed again when great hands from centre Mitch Ward released full-back Charlie Stern and Slavinski added the extras.

Northants hit back with a try three minutes later, but words from coaches Steve Rowe and Tom Edmunds saw Beds tun on the style.

Beds’ forwards turned over the ball on their own five-metre thanks to some great work by Callum Cunningham.

Ward kicked clear and Slavinski chased and kicked on for Adam Jones to race 70m to score, with Slavinski adding the extras. Two minutes later good work from the forwards forced a scrum and good hands from Furneaux and Slavinski enabled Jones to sprint 80m again to score with Slavinski converting to make it 26-7 at oranges.

Beds made changes at half time and great work by Nathan Taylor after the break ended in Jake Hodges stepping the Northants centre for a converted try. Three minutes later Beds pulled their opponents one way and the next and great link play between Slavinski and Ward put Sawford-Smith in for his second.

More strong forward play saw Sawford-Smith complete his hat-trick seven minutes later with Slavinski adding the extras, but the visitors kept going.

A kick and blitz followed by a pick-and-drive saw them score to narrow the gap to 45-12, but in an end-to-end encounter full-back Frank Daly took a kick and, after some great running and dummies, he put Sawford-Smith away to race in from 50m for a converted score.

Beds relaxed in the last 10 minutes as the visitors hit back with two forwards-based tries.

Players came from Amptill, Bedford, Dunstablians, Leighton Buzzard, Luton and Stockwood Park clubs.

The squad now return to their clubs before meeting up in the new year.