From Bedford Blues website:
A spectacular second half performance in the British and Irish Cup saw Bedford Blues brush aside the Ulster Ravens in a thrilling encounter at Goldington Road.
A superb kicking performance from Caption James Pritchard and tries from Ollie Dodge, Will Chudley and Joe Clark, gave the side a 36-22 win despite being eleven points behind the Irish club at half time.
Following a two week break, it was understandable that the Blues were error prone early on, often making handling errors and being turned over. But in the early stages neither side could get into a decent rhythm of play.
However it was the Goldington Road outfit that were to get on board first, when Pritchard converted two early penalties.
The Canadian international, back for his first game after a European tour, was solid with the boot throughout scoring a total of 21 points.
The Ulstermen were not to found wanting, after going behind and the subsequent pressure on the Blues back line told. They toiled in Blues territory, often to no avail, coming close to the whitewash after a chip kick was defended well by Brendan Burke.
However Patrick Jackson was able to get the Irish team’s first points on the board from a penalty, but his team would have expected a try for their hard work in the Blues half.
And it wasn’t long after that they got the scores that they deserved with two similar tries in quick succession.
The normally resolute Bedford looked tired and jaded, despite having the week off, as they struggled with the Ulster pack. After mauling well from a line-out the Ravens out muscled the Bedford defence, and hooker Niall Annett emerged with the ball for the first try.
The Irish men got their second score of the day after a number of phases near the blues try line. Eventually Scott Lavella made up the final metre to dot down. Jackson converted both efforts.
The Blues defence may have not been performing to their usual high standards, but the character in the team were certainly prevalent towards the end of the half as they tried to get across the line for the first time in the afternoon, coming close several times, before Laurence Ovens knocked on the relieve the pressure on the Belfast team.
Sean Tomes, was sin binned late in the half after repeatedly fouling in the ruck, which only served to complete a miserable half for the Blues.
Last year the Blues travelled to Belfast in the same competition only to lose 29-3. On that day most of damage was done in the first half and the Blues were determined grind out a result in the second period.
Martin Hynes and Nick Walshe, who were taking charge of team affairs, would not have been pleased with the first forty minutes but after a straight talking dressing room conversation, they team emerges fired up for the second half. Pritchard ran down the line only to be stopped with inches to go. In the ensuing ruck Tommy Seymour was sent to the bin and Pritchard was able to reduce the deficit with the resulting penalty.
Handre Schmidt, who had been anonymous in the first period, announced himself with a fantastic run moments later which resulted in another penalty for Pritchard to kick between the posts.
With the Ulstermen in their sights the Blues were looking dangerous as they searched for a try of their own. Tom Bedford was halted within touching distance of the line having been put through by Will Fraser. The Blues did win a penalty, which was kicked over effortlessly by Pritchard, from the resulting pressure.
Eventually the home side were rewarded for their second half performance with the tries they had been looking for.
Ollie Dodge broke through the stubborn Belfast defence after being put through by Jake Sharp for the first, before the floodgates opened. The Blues got the second when scrum half Chudley dotted down after picking up ball from the back of the ruck.
Sharp played his part in the Blues third score as he weaved through the Ravens defence before the ball was recycled out to replacement hooker Joe Clark to cross the whitewash. Pritchard converted all three to keep his 100 per cent record for the afternoon.
Ulster did get one back on the score when Johnny Shiels was found out wide all alone to dive over, but the Blues following were more aggrieved that a deliberate stamp on fan favourite Paul Tupai by the Ravens captain Thomas Anderson was left unpunished.
The Blues had other opportunities to increase the score, however the team, and the management will be pleased that the way they came back from a lacklustre first half performance to produce a deserved victory.
Well I’ll definitely hang my head in shame as this wasn’t the result I was expecting having put myself firmly behind this young Ravens side for the last few weeks. Unfortunately lack of game time over the last couple of weeks won’t have helped, especially with the team bringing in quite a few new faces but it’s just the sort of experience that the youngsters will learn from. As our man in the stand says:
Two well-matched teams 1st half but the Ravens should have had another try in corner just on half-time (would have given 2 loosing bonus points).
Bedford made 7 changes in second half. Brought on 1st team basically: Pritchard (c), Schmidt, Burke (Dodge 49), Bedford, Taylor, Sharp (Walshe, 76), Chudley (Veenendaal 66), Ovens, Locke (Clark 56), Boulton (Boot 56), Tomes (Howard 49), Rae, Gillanders, Fraser, Goodman (Tupai 66)
Diack & Smith would probably have made some difference but Ravens overall inexperience and lack of game time as a 15 together told in 2nd half.
Positives are that this was a big step up for Carey, Annett, Henderson, McGuigan, McIlroy, Jackson, McKinney & Allen whilst Birch, Porter, Marshall, Seymour, Cochrane, Cronin & Burns got more valuable time against higher-level opposition.
This will set the scene nicely for Mosley, Neath & London Welsh.
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