BEDFORD BLUES 31 JERSEY 41
BEDFORD couldn’t give Sacha Harding and Brendan Burke the send-offs they deserved as they crashed to a final-day defeat to Jersey at Goldington Road.
Both players were making their final appearances for the club this afternoon, but the Blues produced another error-strewn display to end what has been a disappointing season on another low note.
While their players and staff were left cursing the amount of mistakes that they made, their opponents were jubilant as this result secured their survival from relegation.
Bedford were forced to battle from behind throughout and although they twice fought their way back into contention, they just couldn’t get themselves over the line.
A year after reaching the Championship play-off final, the Blues must deal with finishing ninth – their lowest placing since director of rugby Mike Rayer took charge and overall since 2001.
Harding captained the side on his 200th and final appearance for the Blues in a match Jersey had to win to have any chance of staying in the Championship.
The visitors, who also beat Blues at their home ground, gave their hopes an early boost when fly-half Aaron Penberthy landed a penalty in the second minute.
However, James Pritchard quickly levelled the score after Jersey full back Jack Burroughs was penalised for holding on to the ball after being tackled.
Bedford then lost Don Barrell to the sin bin for kicking the ball away after a penalty had been given against the Blues and Jersey immediately made the most of their man advantage.
The resulting attacking line-out led a driving maul that was too powerful for the hosts to repel, leading to Nick Campbell grounding the ball and Pernberthy converting.
The Channel Islanders were in dreamland after 15 minutes when loosehead Sam Lockwood broke away before off-loading to Nicky Griffiths, who sprinted clear to score in the corner despite Pritchard’s attempted tackle.
But the Blues were back in the picture when Harry Peck quickly took a penalty and just about managed to find Harry Wells who scored his first try for the club.
Pritchard added the extras and Jersey soon found themselves down to 14 men when Ryan Hodson was shown a yellow card for a high tackle on Peck.
Bedford hit the front straight away when Ollie Dodge scythed through the Jersey line and none of the visiting players could catch him as he ran under the posts.
Pritchard’s conversion put the hosts in front but the lead lasted for only five minutes as Penberthy put Jersey in front again with a simple penalty.
The visitors went into half-time with a 25-17 lead as Drew Lock touched down with the final play of the half after Harding failed to cut out a clever grubber by Penberthy, who also converted.
The 21-one-year old was having an excellent game and he kicked his side even further in front after the Blues were pinged at the scrum.
But Bedford began to fight back again as Peck found Sharp, who got his off-load away to Burke and he marked his farewell by going in under the posts and Pritchard’s conversion reduced the gap to four points. Another Penberthy penalty soon after took the score to 31-24 and continued to keep the Blues at arm’s length.
It was then time for Harding to take his leave for the final time and Goldington Road rose as one to applaud the club stalwart off the field.
The hosts drew level after 62 minutes after a quickly-taken penalty by Darryl Veenendaal when Michael Le Bourgeois was first on the scene to pick up from a ruck and score against his old club.
Jersey refused to be broken, however, and took the lead yet again with nine minutes left when referee Andrew Small awarded a penalty try after a driving maul was dragged down just short of the line.
And they took themselves beyond the Blues late on as Penberthy kicked his fifth penalty of the match to seal a momentous result for the visitors which also relegated Ealing Trailfinders.
Article source: http://www.irb.com/jwc/news/newsid=2067275.html
Rugby Union: Bedford Blues 31 Jersey 41 - final day defeat but Channel ...
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