In perfect conditions for running rugby, both sides threw the ball around with ambition, but Richmond rarely found a way through the strong home defence. After a steadily improving trend in recent games, Richmond will be disappointed, but they lacked their normal snap after a three week break.

In the last year, Bedford have entered into an alignment with Northampton Saints, ensuring the young Northampton talent get experience at Championship level. For this game, the Blues had Lewis Bean and Reece Marshall, both experienced Saints players, plus half a dozen younger players from the Premiership club. These were mixed with more familiar Blues players such as Pat Tapley, Rich Lane and Oli Curry. Richmond, still adjusting to the Championship, continued their policy of rotation, introducing Jake Parker and Sam Gratton to the bench for their first appearances of the season.

The kick-off was delayed by an hour and a quarter, Ted Landray starting proceedings with a deep kick into the Blues 22. Straightaway Bedford showed their intent, running the ball out of their 22 and reaching their ten metre line before fly-half Will Maisey, once of Coventry, made a rare error, kicking out on the full. Freddie Hosking secured the lineout ball and Richmond in turn probed the home defence. Scrum-half Luc Jones dummied and almost found a gap in the home 22 but an ankle tap just caught him off balance. When he attempted to re-scramble for the ball, referee Alex Thomas gave Bedford a penalty and they used it to set themselves up again in Richmond’s half.

The first scrum was awarded after five minutes and, from it, Will Kaye then made progress over half way. However, Richmond were turned over and Bedford took a quick tap penalty with the visitors still scrambling back into defensive positions. The lively Connor Tupai got things in motion and, after several phases, quick hands set up winger Pat Tapley, who had acres of space to run round his opposite number for the opening try.

If Richmond were caught napping by the speed of the first try, they soon responded. Alex Goble did very well to catch the long, floated kick off ball and the forwards were quickly up in support. Myles Scott and Jesse Liston battered their way forward and drew an offside penalty. Ted Landray made no mistake from in front.

Bedford barely paused for breath. A Richmond kick into the home half was run back to half way, whereupon hooker Reece Marshall, in his first Bedford game, pulled in several defenders with a dummy and a charging run before getting his pass away to the speeding Rich Lane, who ran a neat angle to the corner from 40 metres. This time Will Maisey added the conversion.

The third try followed in the 22nd minute. Tupai made a break down the blindside and was stopped by Jake Caddy, albeit with a knock-on. From the scum, Richmond conceded a penalty with a high tackle against loose-head Emmanuel Iyogun, who hit the headlines last year playing 80 minutes in a European Cup game against Exeter Chiefs. Twice Richmond defended a five metre lineout but, when Jones hoisted a clearance kick, a forward was offside and the Blues returned to the familiar corner. This time, they made no mistake, staying patient through several drives before Ealing loanee Oli Robinson smashed his way over to take the score to an ominous 17-3.

Despite the score, Richmond were securing their share of the ball but could find no way through the home defence. The forwards were too often knocked backwards, meaning the backs were playing with lateral ball. On the half hour, Scott and Liston again did their best to get over the gain line but, when the ball reached Tom Hodgson, he was faced with a well prepared defensive wall. When he attempted to run a crash ball, he was stopped in his tracks and, two minutes later, replaced by Oli Evans.

Richmond stuck to their task and now had a longer period of pressure in the Bedford 22. The forwards mounted one attack, which got within a metre, but the key pass was behind the player and knocked on. Maisey had the chance to clear but his kick was taken near the touch line by fullback Will Kaye, who scoured the scene ahead before picking his line to make a rare Richmond line break. Alex Goble was in support and the forwards piled in, only to be illegally stopped by Oli Curry, who was yellow carded. Richmond maintained the pressure through a succession of lineouts and a scrum before the forwards finally made good ground, Scott getting the touchdown and Landray adding the conversion. The half time score of 17-10 rather flattered Richmond but certainly set them up to press the Blues hard in the second half.

Somehow, it never happened. Two minutes into the second half, Tupai made a break to the 22 after Richmond ‘bought’ another dummy and winger Josh Gillespie ran a neat angle to scythe through a gap in defence for the fourth try, scored by the posts, from where Maisey added the conversion. Richmond tried in vain to find their rhythm but too many errors under pressure denied them any continuity. The forwards could not get momentum when close to the line and chances were not converted. Too often, the backs got man and ball. A correct but unfortunate yellow card for Lewis Dennett rather summed up that it simply was not Richmond’s day.

The scrum was solid and the lineout again efficient, despite some illegal looking barging which did not always get detected. Landray’s line kicking was excellent, Liston always competed hard and Kaye at fullback looked full of promise. Goble was excellent in the air and substitute Toby Dabell scampered well and introduced some pace. But the sum of the parts was not enough on the day. Championship standards are testing.

All credit to the excellent Bedford Blues, who gave nothing away and played accurate rugby at pace and with power. They scored two more tries in the second half, both forward drives scored by substitute hooker Jacob Fields. This win takes them up to sixth place in the table.

Director of Rugby Steve Hill said post-game: "The boys will be disappointed with how they performed. Having three weeks between games is no excuse but it certainly did not help in our aim to keep improving. We had identified the threats Bedford would bring but we gave them too much time and space in which to play. I was really pleased how often we got into the red zone but less pleased with our accuracy or patience when there. We play the top two clubs in the league over the next two Saturday's and we will need to significantly improve."

Richmond welcome Doncaster Knights to the Athletic Ground next Saturday 24th April (KO 15:00). Live stream tickets on sale shortly.

FINAL SCORE: BEDFORD 38 - RICHMOND 10

Richmond 10
Tries: Myles Scott (40th min)
Conversions: Ted Landray (40th min)
Penalties: Ted Landray (12th min)

Image courtesy of Dante K Photography: www.dantekphotography.com