Match Report
Norwich 24-62 Bedford II
With the First team having a well deserved weekend off it was the
turn of the Bedford Tigers development team to take centre stage.
It was an opportunity that they took with both hands, turning in a dominant display that cemented their place at the top of the
London League. The players took the opportunity to knock on the door of the first team, Jack Brown for one, not only knocked on
the door but took it off its hinges and smashed it to pieces, with his third hat trick in 3 games.
The game began strongly for new boys Norwich, showing great endeavour and numerous offloads, which was rewarded with an early try.
However they could not maintain their high tempo, and the Tigers showed their experience by using the full six tackles to control
territory and possession.
Jack Brown opened the scoring with the first of his three
tries after shrugging off desperate tackles from the Saxons side. Captain
Craig Walker slotted home the easy conversion, the first of his eight on the day. Dan Beroux went over for the next try, with the
Tigers using their big hard running back line to great effect. The Saxons struggled with the power and the pace all afternoon but
refused to give up and showed good resolve later in the game.
Chris Bygraves and Jordan Yeates both crossed the line before
Craig Walker dummied his way over on his way to a personal 20 point
haul. Brown added another before Norwich sneaked one back but the Tigers lead was too vast for a fight back. Bob Stones, forming a
great partnership on the left with his twin brother Daniel, crashed over the line with defenders hanging off him before that man
again Brown rounded off the half giving a 44–10 score line.
In the second half the Tigers began to run out of steam, and
with the weather deteriorating the Saxons showed great resolve to
score three tries, matching the Tigers in the second half. Beroux went over for his second and Andrew Grounds scored a brace but
a lack of concentration led to two further tries being bombed with the line begging. However, overall the Tigers can be very happy
with the performance and control exerted on the game at crucial times.