The Bee Hive - Bedford 29-29 Bees

Bedford 29-29 Bees

By Elliott Josypenko September 4 2006
Pertemps Bees head coach Steve Williams had mixed feelings after his side stunned last season's runners-up by claiming a share of the spoils and a bonus point in a thrilling contest at Goldington Road.

SCORE

National Division 1

2nd September 2006, 3pm

Goldington Road

Attendance: 1,772

	Bedford Blues	29
	Pertemps Bees	29

LINEUPS

Pertemps Bees: 15 Jon Goodridge; 14 Matt Nuthall, 13 Tristan Davies, 12 Adam Billig, 11 Dave Knight; 10 Jon Higgins, 9 Reece Spee; 1 Casey Dunning, 2 Stewart Pearl, 3 Terry Sigley, 4 Mark Cornwell (captain), 5 Mark Gabey, 6 Dan Tuohy, 7 Aakapusi Qera, 8 Will Matthews. Replacements: Mike Baxter, Brad Davies, Kyle Palm, Matt Miles, Matt Long, Alex Davidson, Tom Rawlings.

Bedford: Patston, Moir, Allen, Lewis (Dodge), Staten, Broadfoot, Page, Volland (Cole), Price (Whitehead), Olver, Phillips, Brenton (Comb), Strauss, Harding (Pienaar), Brady (Kettle).

REPORT

Pertemps Bees head coach Steve Williams had mixed feelings after his side stunned last season's runners-up by claiming a share of the spoils and a bonus point in a thrilling contest at Goldington Road.
"I was pleased with the performance but disappointed that we didn't get the win," said Williams, the former Wales international lock.
"We had three or four try-scoring chances that we put away but Bedford were probably a little too clinical.
"We felt that we shot ourselves in the foot by not putting away our chances but we were probably the better team on the day.
"There aren't too many teams who are going to take points off Bedford at Goldington Road this season and we showed that we are capable of competing with the teams that you would expect to finish in the top half of the table."
Akapusi Qera, the Fiji international back-row forward, showed up strongly as one of eleven players making their first competitive appearance for Pertemps Bees.
Qera scored two tries including a superb effort after just 13 minutes from a move that he started close to his own line and finished in style.
Bedford were kept at bay until the half hour when former Northampton lock Jon Phillips -ploughed over and Ross Broadfoot added the extras.
The Bees, who had taken the lead with a penalty from fly-half Jon Higgins, went into the break with a one point advantage but Bedford went 19-8 up when flanker Nic Strauss and and winger Craig Moir crossed for tries with Broadfoot improving the first.
But Pertemps Bees showed their character by stunning Bedford with three tries in five minutes purple patch.
Full-back Jon Goodridge, on loan from Gloucester, suggested that he will be a handful for National One defences by slicing through for the first with Qera again showing strength and pace for his second. Higgins converted both scores.
Former Cardiff Blues winger Matt Nuthall took the chance to show his paces with a 67th minute try which, with Higgins' conversion, gave Pertemps Bees a 29-19 lead.
But the sin-binning of flanker Tom Rawlings reduced Pertemps Bees to 14 men for a critical period towards the end of the match and Bedford snatched the draw in a thrilling finale with a penalty from Broadfoot and converted try from centre Ollie Dodge.

TIMELINE

Scorer	Bedford	'	Bees	Scorer
	29	FT	29
Broadfoot Con	29	80	29
Dodge Try	27	80	29
Broadfoot Pen	22	73	29
	19	66	29	Higgins Con
	19	66	27	Nuthall Try
	19	65	22	Higgins Con
	19	65	20	Qera Try
	19	62	15	Higgins Con
	19	62	13	Goodridge Try
Moir Try	19	55	8
Strauss Con	14	45	8
Strauss Try	12	45	8
Broadfoot Con	7	30	8
Phillips Try	5	30	8
	0	13	8	Qera Try
	0	3	3	Higgings Pen
	0		0