Effort unrewarded as Bedford win Mobbs Memorial Match

The Army Senior Men were unable to turn their final participation in a Mobbs Memorial Match into a win as Bedford earned themselves a 38-10 result at Goldington Road.

Although the hosts began the match looking to make the most of the perfect conditions for attacking rugby, running the ball from deep at every opportunity and putting pressure on in lineouts and scrums, it was the red shirts who drew first blood.

Repeated infringements by the Blues allowed the Army to build pressure in the red zone, and after a tap penalty move had the hosts guessing Gnr Senitiki Nayalo (7 Para RHA) capitalised on the confusion to crash over.

Gnr Senitiki Nayalo with opening the scoring for the Army.

Bedford replied quickly, turning a lineout 10 metres out from the Army line into a try for prop Corrie Barrett, with Louis Grimoldby’s conversion putting them 7-5 in front.

The teams then swapped attacking opportunities, neither of which came to anything, but when the Army were penalised while trying to run from deep, Gnr Nayalo and Rfn Vereimi Qorowale (Rifles) taking it in turns to make metres directly from rucks, Bedford were immediately back in the danger zone courtesy of a Grimoldby touchfinder.

The initial drive was good, but the ball was fumbled in the next phase, and despite more pressure coming on at the scrum 2Lt Al Gliksten (RA) was able to clear.

Back came Bedford, and their continued commitment to sling the ball from one flank to the other and a string of penalties conceded by the red shirts saw the Blues set up camp close to the visitors’ line.

But the red shirts were coming to terms with the challenges they were being posed from a defensive perspective, and when they won a penalty at a breakdown it not only gave them a boost but also the springboard into their second try.

Spr Jack Johnson’s (RE) touchfinder was magnificent, and with the lineout won and possession retained the red shirts marched upfield. Bdr Pete Austin (RA) put in the most eye-catching run, bouncing off a number of defenders, and while there was a bit of pinball rugby play was waved on and Sgt Connor O’Reilly (7 Para RHA) weaved his way to the whitewash.

Sgt Connor O’Reilly with the Army’s second try.

Again Bedford struck back quickly, Grimoldby bypassing the midfield with a pin-point kick to Frankie Sleightholme. The Northampton Saints Academy winger was followed over the line by full back Sean French, making the most of space created by Rfn Qorowale’s yellow card.

Grimoldby added one conversion, making the half-time score 19-10 in favour of the Blues.

The yellow card was still in effect when Blues extended the lead to 26-10 six minutes after the restart. For all their running rugby it was the pack which brought the try once again, a lineout setting up a score for Callum Burns, with Matt Arden adding the touchline conversion.

The Army needed the next score, but despite Spr Johnson kicking imaginatively and Maj Will Reeve (AHQ) looking to spark something from deep, they were finding the home defence a tough nut to crack. And even when some magic from Pte Viliame Kotobalavu (RLC) and Rfn Qorowale opened things up the red shirts ended up being penalised frustratingly close to the line for diving into a breakdown.

There were some promising opportunities from long-range, too, but when the ball needed to stay in the hands it instead was hitting the deck, and heading into the final quarter the score was still Bedford 26, Army 10.

The deadlock was broken in style by Toby Cousins, the latest speedster to come off the Northampton Saints production line. The 18-year-old hit a short line off Jamie Elliott and after that there was no living with his pace as he ran in from 60 metres.

It would have been a worthy final try of the night. However the home pack got in on the action instead, driving another lineout over, Joe Hughes awarded the try.

For their part the Army put together some nice moves, and there were moments which threatened to turn into something dangerous. But when patience and accuracy was required there was over-eagerness and a lack of protection of possession, both of which meant that the red shirts were unable to add to their points tally.

But there was still intent from both teams. Sleightholme came within inches of a second try, only for a fumble on the Army line to turn into an attacking opportunity for the visitors.

The ball was slung wide to Rfn Qorowale, and his combinations with Spr Cameron McDonald (RE) took the red shirts all the way into the home 22. Unfortunately the support ran out, a penalty was conceded, and Arden kicked the ball dead to bring the final whistle.

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