Going Knuts!!

After a heavy loss the week previous Old Bedians 2nd team were eager to show their strength and secure their first win of the season. After arriving with a strong team of 19 confidence was high and when the home side only turned up with 13 it was clear the season was about to turn around. Due to being an excellent sportsman Captain Cook allowed Jay Lau to play for the home team which narrowed our advantage.

The Bedians started the first half strong with the pack asserting their dominance early and our Malaysian scrum half giving the backs some clean ball for Daniel Davis to quickly drive up the park. The first try came from a strong scrum driving over the game line and forcing a penalty, quickly taken by a Bedian whose name escapes me to put the ball down in the corner. Shortly after a couple of phases, Rob Oliver darted past 24 of Knutsfords finest, Bedians were well ahead. Both converted by Michael "Swede is dead, long live the Swed" Rothwell. 14-0. The 3rd try was added with a strong break from a Bedians line out by Si Jude and Bedians were up by another 5 points.

Bedians continued their destruction of the home side throughout the first half with Jim Blair and Jack Rowley leading the way with strong carrying. Another try came from second row Stu Crabb who true to his name sake ran sideways out from a ruck taking the ball off Rothwell and continued to side step past friend and Knutsford player for the day Jay Lau to touch down after a 60 yard dash. Swede missed his first kick of the day but a haul of 6 out of 10 really helped Bedians surge away. A well work line out move resulted Stu Crabb grabbing his 2nd of the game and I think the nameless Bedian might have scored another to end the first passage of play.

Bedians finished the half strong although did feel they could of scored more with Daniel Davis knocking the ball on while bravely attempting to catch a pass that was 100% definitely not anywhere near him. The pack had been strong in the scrums and lineouts and the Knutsford backs were no match for the youth, power and beauty of their opposite numbers shown by their reluctance to run the ball. The half finished and Bedians swapped over sides 6 tries ahead.

Bedians heavy scoring first half resulted in overconfidence in the early stages of the second with Knutsford kicking into touch at Old Bedians 5 meter line. The subsequent lineout was lost and the Knutsford scrum half ran the ball over the line without obstruction. Knutsfords elation however was short lived and from the restart Steven Cook attacked hard through the centre of the park and a good passage of play was finished by Jack Rowley crashing over the line with half the Knutsford pack on his back to continue his record of scoring a try every season for 30 years, although some suspect it may be closer to 50. After some sensible rucking from Bedes to get the game plan back on track Andrew Welsby received the ball from Rob Oliver and his burst of pace ensured Bedians where back in the driving seat.

After earlier tripping over his own shadow Simon Fox had become 'injured' and Bedians Glorious leader decided to make some changes. Brummy Ben came into the fray at 9. Unfortunately after two phases Ben broke his shoulder bone and Fox had to come back on to everyone’s dismay.

The second half proved a much tougher test as it continued with some easy tackles being missed and Knutsford putting on some real pressure with some excellent long kicking. Fortunately Rob Oliver is faster than the speed of light and had soon skipped past another 28 Knutsford players to put the ball over.

The final try came from the nameless Bedian who dodged past 3 tackles to score from the back of a scrum. Swede made the conversion and the game finished 62-5.

A great victory for the Old Bedians and their greatest performance of the season so far, there will be few teams in the league able to cope with 'Cooks Incredibles' in their most recent incarnation.

A special mention goes out to Simon Fox who after many attempts was yet again unable to score a single try.