Burns runs hot as Scots get lesson in finishing
London Scottish 22pts
Tries: Atkinson 58, Fergusson 61, 79;
Holland 80
Conversions: Lydon 79
Bedford Blues 41pts
Tries: Adamson 5, 39; Tapley 23, Burns 56, 72;
George 70, O'Connor 76
Conversions: Dorrian 56, 70; Sharp 70
BEDFORD supremo Mike Rayer saluted a match-winning display from scrum-half Jordan Burns after his side gave London Scottish a lesson in finishing.
Wing-heeled Burns defended like a Trojan and bagged an electric trydouble as Blues ran in seven tries to flatten the outgunned home side.
Rugby director Rayer said: “Jordan was pretty special. His cover tackling was immense and his contribution on the counter-attack was terrific.
“London Scottish butchered chances while we were clinical and we now want to finish the season well to sow some seeds for next year.”
Jamie Stevenson's quick tap enabled Scottish to raid first through Jason Harries, but a midfield fumble let Piers O'Conor counter.
O'Conor fed Dean Adamson and the winger made 20 metres before chipping ahead and regathering to register a fine individual try.
Myles Dorrian failed to convert but Bedford pressed again through O'Conor, Mike Le Bourgeois and Elliot Clements-Hill before Peter Lydon relieved the danger with a booming, windassisted clearance that bounced deep into the visiting 22.
Pat Tapley made good ground down the right for Bedford before Dorrian's inside pass almost sent No.8 Jason Hill racing clear. Scottish scrambled back but Blues kept up the pressure through their forwards before notching a superb second try when Dorrian's delayed pass allowed Clements-Hill to work Tapley over in the corner.
Scottish set up another impressive maul, only for Burns to smuggle the ball away. Frustration intensified for the Exiles when Stevenson fumbled as space opened up and, following a jinking run from Robbie Ferguson, flanker Joe Atkinson was pinged for a double movement.
Huw Taylor's ankle tap denied Clements-Hill a third Bedford try but Scottish respite was brief as Blues again showed their attacking prowess when Le Bourgeois supported a Burns break before feeding O'Conor, who sent Adamson racing over to give Bedford a 15-0 interval lead. Scottish's forwards got to work after the resumption, forcing successive scrum penalties, and the Exiles ought to have bagged a try when Harries broke clear but failed to locate Matt Williams with a run to the line beckoning.
Scottish came again, with Stevenson haring through a gap before Lydon and Harries drove for the line. But Neale Patrick lost control, allowing Bedford hooker Dan George to make 30 metres before offloading superbly for Burns to roar home from halfway for the bonus-point try.
Dorrian converted to leave Exiles looking dead and buried, but Scottish launched a fightback when Atkinson smashed his way over for their first try, before Ferguson capitalised on a Harries break to stretch over and score.
MATCH STATS…
L SCOT v BEDFORD
6 Penalties conceded 8
7 Lineouts won 8
2 Lineouts lost 0
4 Scrums won 6
2 Scrums lost 2
0 Sin bin 0
Any hopes of a remarkable Scottish recovery were soon quashed, however, when Bedford attacked hard through O'Conor and Le Bourgeois and, after Dorrian had kicked a penalty to the corner, Dan George was mauled over.
Burns then raced in for his second try and Le Bourgeois hacked through for O'Conor to bag a deserved five-pointer, before late Scottish tries from Fergusson and Craig Holland salvaged a deserved losing bonus point.
Head coach Peter Richards said: “The boys are frustrated with their accuracy because four of Bedford's tries were from turnovers. We showed great spirit but to not score in the first half when we were dominant was crucial.”
TEAMS
LONDON SCOTTISH: Lydon 6, Williams 6 (Rath 52, 6), Fergusson 7, Coombes 6 (Holland 70, 6), Harries 7, Sheppard 6, Stevenson 6, Shiells 6 (Harris 68, 6), Cherry 6, McQuillin 6 (Koroi 51, 6), Bartle (c) 6 (Hewitt 68, 6), Patrick 6, Taylor 6 (Marley 54, 6), Atkinson 7, Boladau 6 (Cringle 77, 6)
BEDFORD: Clements-Hill 7, Tapley 7, O'Conor 8, Le Bourgeois 7, Adamson 8, Dorrian 7 (Sharp 70, 6), Burns 9, Parilli-Ocampo 6 (Hallam 65, 6), George 8, Cooper 6 (Judge 53, 6), Carrick-Smith 6 (Howard 62, 6), Onojaife 7, Blanchet 7, Buggea 6 (Adams 53, 6), Hill 7
Not used: Fields, Gallagher
REFEREE: Fergus Kirby
ATTENDANCE: 1,301
Star man
Jordan Burns – Bedford
