RUGBY: Blues denied at the death
Late lineout lapse proves costly
The Championship
Nottingham 30 Bedford Blues 29
Second versus fourth at Meadow Lane went the way of the hosts as Nottingham snatched a dramatic 30-29 victory in the 80th minute.
In a superb encounter that was played in a cut and thrust manner throughout, the Blues did enough to win, but a lapse late on allowed Nottingham to burgle a game that they would've thought had slipped away from them.
On a mild yet blustery afternoon, it was the home side who made the initial moves.
A mis-kick from Ian Vass in midfield was returned deep into Blues' territory as Nottingham probed both out wide and through the centre.
Bedford's first foray forward in the fifth minute resulted in a penalty 30 yards out for James Pritchard who showed no sign of his recent kicking troubles as he found the target.
The 3-0 lead didn't last long though. Luke Fielden's pass was intercepted by Tim Streather 60 metres out and the winger avoided Myles Dorrian's covering tackle before diving over. Greig Tonks' conversion attempt was pulled wide to leave the score at 5-3.
Pritchard then pushed a 45-metre penalty attempt just wide as the toing and froing continued with neither side able to establish any real control.
Another long-range penalty from the Canadian was also narrowly off target in the 13th minute, but a fourth two minutes later from straight in front off the posts was converted to put the Blues a point to the good at 6-5.
As was expected from two of the division's form teams, the contest was both evenly balanced and entertaining. Nottingham were having the better of possession, but the Blues' defence looked solid across the board.
A Ben Lewitt interception came to nothing as he found himself without any support and Pritchard did well to stop Streather after he cut through the midfield.
It took a dreadful mistake from Vass for the next score. A hopeful kick forward was dropped under minimal pressure and the chasing Chris Eagleshaw was left with the easy task of strolling over. Tonks converted confidently to put the hosts 12-6 up.
The next few minutes saw the Blues produce their best spell of the match.
The ball was spread both left and right through a number of phases in the home 22 in search of an opening which was eventually found by James Knight who showed good strength to hold off a pair of defenders to touch down.
Pritchard's conversion restored the Blues' lead which was put under threat as Nottingham surged forward. A strong rolling maul was repelled, but the pressure eventually told as Tonks kicked a simple penalty which turned out to be the last action of the half.
Vass' shoulder charge a minute into the second half gave Tonks the opportunity to increase his tally with a straightforward penalty.
Alex Rae's knock-on out wide looked to have cost the Blues the chance of immediately squaring things up, but play was brought back for offside with Pritchard slotting penalty number three to cut the deficit to two.
Pritchard's excellent tackle stooped his opposite number Rohaan Nirmalendran a yard short of the line, an intervention that proved to be decisive as, a couple of minutes later, Vass made amends for his earlier howler when he burrowed his way over to round off a good Blues move.
Pritchard made no mistake with the extras – he looked more like the Pritchard of old with the boot – to make the score 23-18 to the visitors.
Duncan Taylor's strong pursuit of Pritchard's chip forward forced Nirmalendran to concede a penalty 22 yards out and straight in front of the posts, a chance that wasn't squandered by the full-back.
Eight points up and with 20 minutes left, the Blues went in search of a score to make the game safe, but it was Nottingham who enjoyed the better of the next few minutes.
They could've had a penalty try if referee Greg Garner, who had a poor afternoon with the whistle, hadn't decided to bring play back for an earlier offence rather than punish John Harlock who knocked the ball dead deliberately.
But they got their reward shortly after when fly-half Tim Taylor pounced on the ball to score when it squirted out of the side of the scrum.
The conversion was missed to allow the Blues to stay three points in front, a lead that Pritchard doubled with an accurate penalty from wide out on the right.
Back came Nottingham. A kickable penalty 10 metres out was turned down in favour of a lineout and a potentially match-winning try, but the opportunity was wasted when Taylor knocked on under pressure.
The drama wasn't over however. In the final minute the Blues contrived to lose their own lineout close to the line and Luke Sherriff was on hand to dive over from close range.
Tonks made no mistake with the conversion, a kick that snatched victory away from a Blues side who would've though they had done enough to take the points.
BLUES: Pritchard, Fielden (Knight 18), Dodge, Roberts, Taylor, Dorrian, Vass (walshe 64), Walsh, Richmond (Locke 66), Boulton, Spencer (Daynes 59), Harlock, Rae, Lewitt, Tupai.
Subs: Seal, Brown, Davies.
MOM: Alex Rae. A strong performance throughout.
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Weather for Biggleswade
Sunday 12 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 2 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North west
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Cloudy
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