Saints Stop Battling Bedford at Franklins Gardens

Saints gave debuts to three players, Neil Starling and Simon Emms on the bench and Ross Beattie at blindside, as well as a first start for academy back row Brett McNamee. However, this was still a very strong side, the forwards especially standing up well under pressure.

An early penalty chance for Bedford went wide from Leigh Hinton's boot, but they maintained early pressure. Only a Steve Thompson interception of a Junior Paramore pass clearing the lines, leading to an eighth minute penalty for Paul Grayson. The player/coach duly converted it, putting Saints 3 - 0 up.

Saints now went on a pressure binge, piling into the Bedford 22 at every opportunity. A typical local derby punch up led to former Saint Arthur Brenton spending 10 minutes in the bin. Shortly afterwards, Saints pressure paid off as John Rudd ran in for his third try of the season, Grayson converting to put the Saints 10 - 0 up after 16 minutes.

The 20 minute mark saw ex-Saints and Scotland prop Mattie "Sarge" Stewart leave the pitch, to be replaced by John Brooks. A Bedford penalty on 29 minutes led to the lead being shortened to 10 - 3.

Jon Clarke, after a shaky start dropping a few high balls, showed his pace by running the ball from a Saints lineout on the Bedford 22 to just 10 metres short of the line. Saints went on another period of sustained pressure, not leaving the Bedford 22 for five minutes, but coming away from the situation no better off.

Wylie Human collected the ball on halfway on 38 minutes, running it well into the Bedford 22. Good handling led to a Mark Tucker chip through, which rolled into touch before Rudd could reach it. A subsequent attack just prior to half time led Tucker to a try, Grayson hitting the post with the conversion and leaving it 15 - 3 at half time.

At the half time First XV draw, two COYSDC regulars won prizes - Bob "Saintsby" Stainsby coming away with a Gillette grooming kit (handy for trimming the beard!) and John "Slimjimme" Mitchell got to take Steve Thompson's lovely sweaty shirt home.

Early in the second half, Paul Grayson missed a penalty kick from the Bedford 10m line, drifting it wide of the mark. The next ten minutes were all Bedford, even to the point where they were held up over the line. Saints finally regained the play on 53 minutes. Saints were then forced to re-jig their pack, as Brett McNamee went off to be replaced by hooker Dan Richmond, with Steve Thompson dropping to the back row.

Marc Stcherbina ran through the Bedford defence moments later, the ball being recycled out to Jon Clarke, collecting his second try of the season.

Grsyson again missed the extra points, but Saints were leading well at 20 - 3 with 25 minutes left.

Brett Sturgess and Neil Starling entered the fray on the hour mark, replacing robbie Morris and Mark Tucker respectively. Bedford also brought on the big guns, 22 stone prop Soane Tonga'uiha replacing Matt Volland.

Obviously Steve Thompson's progression back through the team had gone to his head, as on 64 minutes he kicked a massive clearance from his own 22 to the Bedford 10 metre line! this also signalled the point where Mark "Sharky" Robinson was to be replaced by Johnny Howard.

A poor Ian Vass cross kick fell for John Rudd, who powered from the halfway line to just short of the Bedford line, the ball going out to Wylie Human who ran it under the posts for his sixth try of the season, and Saints fourth of the match. Grayson added the two points, putting Saints 27 - 3 up after 66 minutes.

 Simon Emms made his Saints debut, replacing a storming Chris Budgen. Bedford also made replacements, taking off Junior Paramore and Ali Hepher, replacing them with Shaun Brady and Dom Malone. Saints had a promising run through debutant centre Neil Starling, who took the ball from the Saints 22 to the Bedford 10 metre line. This was collected by John Rudd, who sent Jon Clarke away for his second try of he afternoon.

Grayson slotted another conversion, and was immediately replaced by Shane Drahm, to leave Saints cruising at 34 - 3 with ten minutes left. Johan Van Wyk also came on, replacing Steve Thompson.

With five minutes of regular time remaining, Johnny Howard was sin binned for what I believe was a deliberate knock on. Bedford used this opportunity to push over Tonga'uiha in the corner, but the conversion hit the post to close the gap to 34 - 8. Bedford now rang the changes, Andy Phillips replacing brother Jon, James Hinkins replacing Craig Moir and Matt Price replacing Chris Johnson - leaving only Ian Vass and Matt Allen from the starting ex-Jimmies.

A worrying injury to Grant Seely, who continued playing (seemingly as we had no subs left!) and Shane Drahm got involved in a punch up with two bedford players, and got Jon Clarke the blame! The match was capped off with Seely squeezing in the corner for the sixth try, Drahm converting from the touchline (amid boos from the Bedford fans, who felt Seely had knocked on) and a fantastic win of 41 - 8 was ended.