Maisey pulls the strings to set Bedford on right road

■ By ANDY HASTINGS

Bedford B …….. 45pts

Tries: James 3, Worley 17, 23; James 36, Le Bourgeois 58, Cousins 79

Conversions: Maisey 4, 18, 24, 27, 59, 80

Penalties: Maisey 22

Caldy …………….. 19pts

Tries: Wynn 39, Penalty 55, Stevenson 64

Conversions: Barker 40

BEDFORD survived a period with 12 men to run in six tries and dismantle Caldy at Goldington Road. After a barnstorming first half, ill-discipline almost undid all their good work before rallying to secure the full five points.

Blues assistant coach Jim Henry said: “We were scrambling around a bit for a while and it was really needless. Fair play to Caldy because they put us under pressure but we should have stuck to task better.

“There’s plenty to fix up from that second half because Coventry are a massive challenge next week. I’d imagine some of the things we got away with, we won’t against them and we need to be better.

“It’s pretty rare to see all the points scored up the hill but that was the case for both sides.”

Mike Rayer’s side were irresistible in the first half as they ran in 31 unanswered points to blow away their opponents. Louis James set the game in motion after just three minutes with an instinctive finish from Will Maisey’s kick through – Bedford’s flyhalf pulled the strings all game and deservedly concluded the game with a perfect record off the tee.

Matt Worley scored twice with run ins, before a well crafted try set James Lennon under the sticks for the bonus.

Caldy hit back on the stroke of half-time from Ollie Wynn and they took that momentum into the second half as Blues were in danger of capitulating.

After Bryan O’Connor was binned for repeat maul offences, Worley also found himself on his way to the bin following a penalty try that cut the gap.

Michael Le Bourgeois scored an opportunistic try to stop Bedford’s rut, but when Louis James was carded for deliberately pulling back the chasing player, Caldy had all the momentum.

They could only muster one try in that timeframe as Freddie Stevenson crossed.

Bedford regrouped and concluded the scoring with a first ever score in club colours for Toby Cousins.

Debutant George Smith said: “I’ve played at Goldington Road three or four times so when Northampton said I was heading across, I was excited to pull on the Bedford jersey. A great result, we made hard work of it at times, but we matched Caldy’s set-piece really well which was always going to be the biggest test.”