Birmingham Bulldogs Rugby League FC travelled to Bedford with 4 regular first teamer’s absent and with two more making their season’s debuts. Despite a patchy away record, the Bedford side have been a match for anyone on home turf this season, and Brum felt the full force of a side that rediscovered itself on the day.
An early attack by Birmingham resulted in a mix up that saw home right centre Rod Ashton scoop up the loose ball and race to the corner for a try which he converted well himself. Brum countered well and gained a second attacking set from a goal line drop out. From that attack, they drove to the home line where prop Ross Midgely drove over; Gilmartin’s goal attempt went just wide.
Tigers grabbed possession from the restart but the counterattack ended with a knock on. However, they were more successful a few minutes later; again Bulldogs lost possession and the ball was moved left to right where full back Chris Aubrey touched down, Ashton again converting well.
Bedford went on the attack again but knocked on; Brum’s Honey and Bernard hacked the loose ball on, but the latter just failed to grab the loose ball with the line beckoning. Just before the break, a similar situation saw a counterattack by the home side as skipper and loose forward Sam Richbell supported a break by Sinclair to touch down between the posts, Ashton goaling.
HT: Bedford Tigers 18pts Birmingham Bulldogs 4
Birmingham needed to score first to get back into strong contention, but a brace of tries by home left centre Zander Peden – the first goaled by Ashton – which both originated in penalty concessions by Bulldogs left them with an uphill struggle. A knock on by Brum after the fifth tackle saw the ball hacked on by the home side, stand 0ff Graham Magill re-gathering to cross for the try and Ashton converting well.
Thirty points adrift, Birmingham could have buckled, but to their great credit they stuck to their task. A fine break from the scrum base by Harper was carried on by Midgely who then set up fellow prop Sam “Bully” Woodward who went over in the right corner.
But the game was taking its toll on the visitors, particularly with the loss of centre Jones though injury, and the hosts ended strongly with a second try for Richbell and a hat-trick try for Peden which Ashton goaled.
The final tally was a bit harsh on Bulldogs. But they know that they made too many errors in possession, aside from any defensive lapses. Midgely took man-of-the-match honours for Brum, though Eyre’s defensive work made him a strong contender.
