Bedians Show Aggression and Determination to Win

Old Bedians hosted Newton –Le-Willows on Saturday it what turned out to be just the physical contest that the boys from Didsbury had expected it would be.

Newton are always a tough side to play against and they started strongly with a series of aggressive and confrontational carries around the fringes. In fact Bedes barely got a touch on the ball for the first 10 minutes as the St Helens side were camped inside the South Manchester half, constantly probing the Bedians defence.

The hosts’ defence remained firm however, and following a turn over from 1st team debutant Tom Walker, the ball was spread wide to Lawrence Smith, who despite having to pick up the ball from the floor, then proceeded to run 80 metres, fielding off several opposition players in the process to score under the posts. First blood Bedes.

Newton were not to be disheartened however and came straight back at Bedes to set up camp once again in the club house end of the pitch. After one too many indiscretions from the home side, Richard Thomas was the unlikely recipient of the referees yellow, earning 10 minutes in the bin for failing to roll away from the tackle. The resulting penalty was taking quickly by Newton, and although the initial ball carrier was tackled by captain Steve Bannell, Newton reacted much quicker than Bedes to the break down and ran through an empty gap to dive over.

Whilst the Newton kicker stood up to take the conversation (which he ultimately missed) Bedes were read the riot act by Bannell who challenged the players to prove that they too could match the physicality and aggression being shown by the visitors.

The forward back responded superbly to the challenge and series of rucks won by Patrick Willis, Dopey Jim and Jim O’Neill led to a period of pressure on the Newton line. From this pressure Smith managed to charge down a clearance kick and dived over for his second try of the match. Despite being a man down, Bedes now led 12-5.

A much better period of play then developed as Bedes started to wrestle control of the match. Thompson returned from the bin, with a net gain of 2 points over the 10 minute period for Old Bedians, and a confidence surged through the side.

Jonathan Swift marshalled the back line in his second game at fly half, whilst both Andrew Frazer and Dan Gardiner looked solid in the middle.
Bedians finished the half on a high, although without scoring any further points and led 12-5 at half time.

Bedes knew that a lead of only 7 points would not be enough and so began the second half as the finished the first, by matching Newton with similar aggression and physicality. Bedians were helped by the introduction of Stephen McKendrick replacing the veteran O’Neil during the break. Despite the change in the front row, both sides continued to be dominate on their own ball at line outs and scrums and so turn over opportunities only came in the loose, where Walker was superbly stealing ball in the tackle.

As the second half clock counted down, Bedian’s own French Flair Man, Samuel Belfond collected the ball deep in the opposition half. He dinked around two tacklers and then showed great strength to hold off a third as he rolled into the corner for his first try for the club, and the hosts third of the day.

Bedians knew at that point that a bonus point could be got and it came in spectacular fashion as man of the match, Ben Rogerson, threw a one handed reverse, no look pass out to Swift, despite Bannell screaming for a much easier pass. Swift passed onto Gardiner who completed the score and secured the bonus point.

Further changes were made to the team near the end of the match with Jack Rotherham replacing Alex Rakowski and making his debut and Adam Dove doing the same in place of Walker.

Dove in fact had a debut to remember, as with his first touch of the ball he took a crash penalty and drove over to touch down for the final score of the game.

The match finished 29-5 to Old Bedians and allowed them to move up to 3rd in the table. This week the 1s travel to Eagle, in what promises to be yet another hard test for the boys.