Bedford hit ten to leave Ampthill on the floor

■ By BEN WHITE

Ampthill …………12pts

Tries: Sylvester 68, Jackson 72

Conversion: Grimoldby 73

Bedford Blues ..66pts

Tries: Benson 3, Fish 11, 46; Lennon 15, Hutler 23, 74; Adamson 35, 80;

Titherington 59, Maisey 77

Conversions: Maisey 12, 16, 24, 47, 60, 75, 78, 80

BEDFORD secured back-to-back wins, scoring five tries in each half in a thumping victory over local rivals Ampthill, in the first Bedfordshire derby of the season on Olney Field.

The Blues made an unbelievable start, scoring three tries to lead 19-0 after 16 minutes. Archie Benson and James Fish forced their way across the whitewash while Fish played a key role in the third try, breaking the line and then feeding Jamie Lennon for a walk-in try.

Seva Kava was shown a yellow for tackling a Bedford player in the air and the Blues punished the 14 men, scoring their bonus point score in the 23rd minute with Ryan Hutler finishing off a fast break which started inside the Bedford half.

Despite a 29th minute yellow for Bedford back rower Nicholas Finch for a deliberate trip on Ampthill centre Oscar Wilson, Bedford scored their fifth and final try of the first half to lead 31-0 at the break. After building the phases in and around the Ampthill 22, the ball spread to Dean Adamson, who cut inside and sprinted in to dot down.

The Blues extended their lead in the opening 20 minutes of the second period, scoring two converted tries to lead 45-0. Fish once again finished from close range in the 46th minute, and Lucas Titherington burst through a massive hole after a receiving a quick ball from the base of the ruck.

Even though the game was out of their grasp, Ampthill scored two quickfire consolation tries to get on the scoreboard and trail 12-52 after 73 minutes. After applying some sustained pressure near the Bedford line, Kennedy Sylvester managed to push his way over the try line in the 68th minute, and Brandon Jackson sped away on the right hand side to score the Mob’s second try in the 72nd minute.

The visitors were ruthless in the closing stages of the match, scoring three more converted tries to rubber stamp an emphatic win against their Bedfordshire rivals.

Hutler intercepted a loopy pass inside the Ampthill 22 and strolled across the line in the 74th minute, and two sublime fast breaks were finished off by Will Maisey and Adamson in the 77th and 80th minute.

After the match, a delighted Bedford DoR Mike Rayer said: “We were very clinical today, Ampthill made quite a few errors and we finished a lot of openings really well.”

Ampthill head coach Dave Ward said: “We didn’t turn up today, We gave them every opportunity and they took them.”