EDF Energy National Trophy

Round 4

20th January 2007

Goldington Road

Bedford 31

Titans 21

V

Earth Titans

15 Andrew Turnbull, 14 Jon Feeley, 13 Brian Tuohy, 12 Tom Allen, 11 Geoff Griffiths, 10 Jamie Blackwood, 9 Brendan Burke (Kirkwood 40), 1 Jarleth Carey (Kilbane 63), 2 Nigel Conroy, 3 Steve Croall, 4 Louis McGowan (Waterhouse 76), 5 Gareth McComb, 6 Bernard Hennessey, 7 Jamie Sutton, 8 Neil Cochrane (Capt).

Replacements: 16 Jamie Kilbane, 17 James Waterhouse, 18 Hendre Fourie, 19 Jannie Bornman, 20 Errie Claassens, 21 Tom Outram, 22 Michael Kirkwood.

Bedford

15 James Pritchard, 14 Craig Moir, 13 Emyr Lewis, 12 Matt Allen (Capt), 11 Alex Page, 10 Ben Patston, 9 Karl Dickson, 1 Matt Volland, 2 Chris Whitehead, 3 Dan Cole, 4 James Percival, 5 Arthur Brenton, 6 Nic Strauss, 7 Sacha Harding, 8 Adam Kettle.

Replacements: 16 Matt Price, 17 Adrian Olver, 18 Ben Alexander, 19 Marc Comb, 20 Shaun Brady, 21 Ross Broadfoot, 22 Paul Kendall.

Once the Titans settled they looked an accomplished unit and they more than competed for the final hour, after an opening period when Bedford looked like they would run away with it.

There was some pleasing performances throughout the side, Turnbull was outstanding at full back and may just have played himself back into first team contention.

Jamie Blackwood’s first start at fly half was impressive and the lad improves with each and every game he’s involved in. Cochrane, back as Skipper made a fine contribution as did the pair of locks McComb and McGowan.

Griffiths on the wing showed flashes, Sutton had a solid game at open side and Hennessey displayed great versatility with a remarkable effort at blind side.

Post match a content Andre Bester noted, “It took us twenty minutes to get use to the pace of the game and the moment the guys realised they were in it, everything changed. There were some outstanding performances out there today and overall I am quite happy.

“The boys put up their hands and were outstanding, really outstanding. Some of them have put real pressure on some of the players currently in the starting fifteen.

“Who would have thought that we could bring an “A” side to Bedford and beat them in the last hour of a game?”

And Bester was not too disappointed at the prospect of having some free weekends ahead, “To say that having a few weekends with no rugby will be good for our league campaign is the understatement of the year, because everything at the club depends on how well we do in the league!”

In what was a torrid opening spell for the Titans, they found themselves 17-0 down and virtually out of the contest. Converted tries from James Percival and Karl Dickson and a penalty from James Pritchard left the visitors shell shocked.

As the first quarter faded with virtually their first period of possession in the Bedford half, Roth came away with seven points. Initially a fine break down the left saw Geoff Griffiths almost touch down in the corner.

From the resulting pressure the hosts conceded a penalty close to their line. Quick as you like Brendan Burke took a quick tap to snipe over to score. Hennessey playing at blind side flank converted the try.

Two minutes later Burke was yellow carded for a high tackle and he joined Jamie Blackwood on the sidelines, as he’d received the same punishment on 13 minutes for a deliberate knock on.

A minute later with Roth down to thirteen men, the host scored their third try through left wing Alex Page. From a line out on the right, Bedford quickly fed the ball across the line, exploiting the two man advantage for an easy score.

The last 10 minutes of the half were pretty much spent in the Bedford 22 near the bottom right corner; however some stern defending ensured they would be no further scores in the half.

Rotherham’s hopes of a remarkable comeback were raised four minutes into the second half when Jon Feeley scored a converted try. A ferocious 20 metre break by prop Steve Croall opened up the defence, he then found Feeley on the wing.

Feeley threw a sweet dummy which two Bedford defenders “bought” and then he proceeded to gallop home to touch down for a fine try.

Any hopes of a comeback were dispelled by James Pritchard as he converted three penalty kicks to extend the hosts lead.

Rotherham had the better of the second half and spent long periods in the hosts half; however fly half Ben Patston often relieved pressure with some booming kicks downfield.

Deep into injury time and with the final act of the match, Rotherham scored their 10^th penalty try of the season as the Bedford scrum crumbled.

Full Time Bedford 31-21 Rotherham

What’s that old cliché about concentrating on the league – well Rotherham can now – but they never really took their eye off it in the first place.

It was very pleasing to see the depth of the Rotherham squad and to push Bedford so close on their own patch, where this season they have still only lost the one game.

No excuses now though, Roth face 10 cup finals with no distractions as they attempt to return to the Promise Land that is called The Premiership.

Other Cup results this weekend

 Sat 20 Jan 07

 Sun 21 Jan 07

National Division 1

Roth v Bees 27 January at the Earth Arena

kick off 2.00pm