Broadstreet RFC

A game where both teams needed to win to keep there prospective hopes alive at both ends of the table. Bedford needing to win 2 out of their last 3 to stay in midlands one and Coventry Side Broadstreet needing to win 2 out of their last 4 to gain automatic promotion to the National league.

The game played under changeable spring conditions with a gusty wind blowing down the field. Street choose to play with the elements in the first half.

Both teams started nervously with what was at stake and this trend continued throughout the game with both teams contributing to a game full of errors, which was not helped by an over zealous referee. Bedford were first on the scoreboard with a Jamie Elphick penalty on 6 minutes. Broadstreet responded with a bout of pressure that resulted in a penalty for Dan Richards on 7 minutes. Richards the top point’s scorer in the league had another excellent afternoon with the boot only missing one kick all afternoon. Richards added a further penalty on 15 minutes taking the score to 6-3 to the street. Then came the first try of the game scored by Adam Watts who was starting his first game since coming back form a serious injury. The ball kicked through by Richards bobbled about just short of the line with an easy pick and dive for Watts.

Richards added the conversion making the score 13-3 in streets favour. Bedford picked up the pace and put the street line under pressure. Broadstreet were penalized with Simon Morris being sent to the bin. Elphick then kicked his second kick of the game.6-13. From the restart streets worked their way down the field and were awarded a penalty on 36 minutes for a Bedford player straying offside. Richards added the 3 points to take the score to 16-6. This was to remain the score until half time.

The second half started with a kicking contest between Elphick and Richards with the Bedford player adding three kicks to Richards two. With Morris back on the field and street back to full strength for only 5 minutes when skipper Eddie Simkiss was sent to the bin for falling foul of the referee. Street did not start to pick up the pace until 60 minutes when a breakout from there own half by replacement Wayne Lester put James Hunt through. Hunt was tackled and managed to pass back in side to Thatcher who was clean through to the line only to be pulled back for Hunt having been adjudged to have put a foot in touch much to the amazement of the visitors bench and following supporters. This did not deter Hunt who was soon to score the second try of the game a few moments later. From a scrum Thatcher broke down the right and the final pass to Hunt left him with the race to the line with only one man to beat he managed to squeeze in at the corner. Richards failed with his conversion when slipping as he took the kick. Bedford were reduced to 14 men when scrum half Stajka was sent to the bin. Bedford were under pressure and Thatcher made another break but his pass back inside to Rooke was poor. Thatcher was to make amends for his poor pass 2 minutes later when he broke through and went in unchallenged under the posts. Richards adding his easiest kick of the afternoon. The game then petered out to the final whistle with the score at 15-34.

Coach Lee Crofts said after the game “we were well below par today but we are happy with the victory and we will work on a few things for next weeks game”