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Northampton RL’s final game of 2007 saw them go out on a high, with a convincing win over Bedford’s second team. Despite having five regular players out, Northampton were still able to put out a strong team, strong in the forwards, fast in the backs and clever in the halfbacks. For the Tigers, a combination of last minute pull outs and players being drafted into the first team squad meant that five of the 15 players on duty were making their debuts for the side.
It was just four minutes before scrum half Wenham-Flat scored under the posts, helping Northampton take a 6-0 lead. Centre Brotherton grabbed a long range try, outpacing the whole of the Bedford team. Bedford debutant James Miller finished off a move to reduce the arrears to 12-6, before Northampton’s Dave Schindler took a tricky inside pass from Fowler to score under the posts, leaving the halftime score at 18-6 to Northampton.
Richards scooted over from acting half to get another try, then the Tigers were to get their second with a powerful drive over the line from close range by Shane ‘Guinness’ Moulds, playing in the unaccustomed role of hooker. Next, Northampton’s Andy Gosling powered through the middle of the defence and accelerated away for a spectacular forty metre try. Winger Sam Howes was next to score, giving him eight for the season and making him the club’s top try scorer.
It wasn’t long before a cross field run from Wenham-Flatt opened a gap for Richards to burst through. Van De Venter continued the move, linked with Brotherton, and finished the try himself, putting Northampton further up. Wenham-Flatt squeezed in at the corner. Bedford managed two more tries, courtesy of second row Richard Harris, and debutant centre James Coates, but with almost the last move of the game, Fowler kicked for Brotherton and Howes to chase, the latter collecting for the final score of the match.. Man of the match for the victors was Dave Schindler, playing his last match before emigrating east. Brotherton and Howes were a lethal combination in the backs, Jaznik and Dobson showed great toughness, and Fowler organised the team efficiently. This was a fitting end to the season that started with a heavy loss to Bedford. The Northampton team plan to join the RLC next year, and based on this performance, things look very good indeed.