BEDFORD BLUES 23

NORTHAMTON SAINTS 34

National League One Round 4

Goldington Road

Saturday, 22 September 2007

Saints left Goldington Road with another five league points, but they had to withstand 40 second-half minutes of Bedford pressure to come away with the points. It was definitely a victory whose foundation was the visitors' defence and three crucial first-half tries.

Saints drew first blood when Ben Patston's long kick missed touch and was recovered by Carlos Spencer. He spotted space wide on the left and kicked for Bruce Reihana. Several phases later Saints were well into Bedford's territory and with a penalty shot, converted by Barry Everitt.

Patston equalised two minutes later but the first try opportunity fell to Saints. A penalty kicked to the corner was won and a maul set up. But Nic Strauss and the Bedford pack turned the ball over and Patston cleared to touch on halfway. Bedford also won the lineout but turned the ball over to groans of disappointment, not least when Spencer set off on a counter-attack.

They were prophetic as Spencer sliced through the defensive line, played a one-two with Tim Visser, found James Downey who in turn passed to Mark Hopley for the try. Everitt converted and Saints were 10-3 up at the end of the first quarter.

That's not to say that Bedford weren't a potent attacking force. Indeed Craig Moir made a good break and Paul Diggin was forced into a try-saving tackle on Alex Page.

They lacked the cutting edge of the visitors though, shown again in the 25th minute. While both sets of forwards were concentrating on fronting up Downey spied space down the blindside. Dave Ward was in support and had his fourth try of the season.

Patston kicked his second penalty three minutes later but the lead was extended two minutes after that. Blues offside in midfield had the Saints lineout in the corner once more. The ball was whipped along the line and Reihana powered over.

Moir replied in kind three minutes later following a neat Patston break - the latter also converting - but a Ben Lewitt break had Bedford back on their own line. This time Saints failed to capitalise with firstly a knock on, then crossing in midfield, allowing the Blues to clear.

Patston also tried a 50-metre drop-goal and a cheeky chip but neither came off as he would have wanted and the half finished with the Saints leading 24-13.

Saints spent the third quarter under the cosh. Galvanised by the break the Bedford forwards set about trying to break through the visitors' defence. Repeated charges by forwards and backs were repelled by the white wall of men, although Patston was held up by the posts. Instead the Blues had to settle for a Patston penalty, compounded for the Saints by Everitt's yellow card.

Saints first points of the half came with their first visit to Bedford's territory with a Reihana penalty. It was brief respite as the Blues set up camp once more deep in the Northampton half. Two penalties in quick succession were both kicked to the corner by Patston's replacement Jon Elrick and once again forwards and backs made inroads into the defence.

A great tackle by Ian Vass relieved the pressure as it forced a knock on and allowed Diggin to clear upfield. Then from the 22-metre line Spencer ran the ball back, found Alex Rae who in turn sent Downey in for his first Saints try. Everitt added the conversion and Saints had the bonus point.

Bedford finally crossed the line in injury-time when Page handed off Tim Visser's tackle and dived over. Elrick added the conversion but it was too little, too late and Saints won 34-23.

Teams:
Bedford Blues - Burke; Moir (Hinkins 80mins), Roberts, Allen (capt), Page; Patston (Elrick 64mins), Dickson; Volland (Cecero 12mins), Richmond (Sammons 76mins), Cole, Phillips (Comb 73mins), Botha, Strauss, Harding (Mundy 73mins), McKay.

Northampton Saints - Spencer; Diggin (Ashton 79mins), Reihana (capt), Downey (Kydd 79mins), Visser; Everitt, Vass (Brake 79mins); Emms, Ward (Gray 80mins), Stewart (Budgen 64mins), Short (Lord 55mins), Rae, Tupai, Lewitt (Fox 55mins), Hopley.

Scorers:
Bedford Blues - Tries: Moir, Page; Cons: Patston, Elrick; Pens: Patston (3).

Northampton Saints - Tries: Hopley, Ward, Reihana, Downey; Cons: Everitt (4); Pens: Everitt, Reihana.

Yellow card:
Everitt (14mins)

Attendance:
5,307

TIMELINE:
9mins SAINTS Pen Everitt 0-3
11mins BLUES Pen Patston 3-3
17mins SAINTS Try Hopley Con Everitt 3-10
25mins SAINTS Try Ward Con Everitt 3-17
28mins BLUES Pen Patston 6-17
30mins SAINTS Try Reihana Con Everitt 6-24
33mins BLUES Try Moir Con Patston 13-24
HALF-TIME BLUES 13 SAINTS 24
54mins SAINTS Yellow card Everitt
55mins BLUES Pen Patston 16-24
60mins SAINTS Pen Reihana 16-27
72mins SAINTS Try Downey Con Everitt 16-34
78mins BLUES Try Page Con Elrick 23-34
FULL-TIME BLUES 23 SAINTS 34