Do you know that feeling? - when you walk out onto the rugby pitch and think ‘well well here we go again’. I walked out alongside our youthful Strength and Conditioning coach Callum MacLean. He was humming a tune quite badly.

Amazingly I recognised the tune, and it just seemed so appropriate. Here we were ‘you and me - in paradise’ having prepared for the big match all week and now ready to GO! In front of an expectant home crowd and I think what was a confident away support.

Bedford Athletic were fresh from an unexpected away win against 3rd place Old Northamptonians (30 -35). Would it be their day again?

And it could have been. But it wasn’t. It was a battle between the bottom 2 sides, within a league that on your day anyone can win. It was the case though that again Bedford had undoubted opportunity to shine following on from Old Northamptonians previous lack of discipline and resulting depleted numbers.

We afforded exactly the same opportunities with a red card and numerous yellows. The difference being though that A&C rather than struggle developed a work ethic similar to Mary Poppins with a 2nd half ‘practically perfect’ and one that Bedford really couldn’t match. This report must be accom-panied with a photo of the famous lady.

Bedford started the best and seized an early (3mins) penalty opportunity to take an early (0-3) lead. Soon after A&C also worked hard and were rewarded with a penalty opportunity in their own half. An impressive Ben Pothecary kick from hands set-up a secure line-up, rolling maul with returning back-row Jordan Scott striking for a fine opening try. Tom Fawssett duly converted (7- 3).

Captain Josh then stood up on his tippy toes and tried to catch the ball. Valient effort but failed in his mission and his disappointment was duly compounded when the referee decreed a deliberate knock down - he was sent to the cooler to reflect.

Bedford must have thought this is deja vous. If they didn’t then they definitely did as almost immedi-ately, try scorer Jordan Scott followed our Captain to the cooler after being judged to have pulled down a maul. Up against a valiant Chiltern 13 it was not unlucky for us that Bedford secured their opening try through their hooker. Duly converted we were very concerned (7-10).

Although both our boys soon returned to the pitch it was then prop Charlie Swerling who wanted to make it a trio of yellows. I know it is his favourite colour but really no excuses as we continued to make life difficult . Fortunately, Bedford were building no momentum with missed opportunities whilst A&C seemed energised, making gains and building pressure.

With strong counter attacks and Bedford mistakes it was our hard-working back row Michael Everett (in front of a proud mum and dad) who scored a fine try under the posts through a scrambling de-fence. Conversion missed (12-10). Though Bedford still had some fight and after settling down with some secure phases were rewarded with a strongly worked try. Not converted and earned the H/T lead (12 - 17)

Which way would it go following the half-time review? Would we come out and dominate or would we implode. Well Captain Josh made it interesting with a spontaneous high tackle (I really didn’t think he was tall enough) but he was deemed tall enough.

With no emotion Josh was dispatched to stand and had to support from the touchline. Bedford must have felt confident. But they didn’t show it, and A&C were in the mood. With impressive set plays, slick line outs and solid scrums their backs benefited from increased running breaks whilst our fine tackling was maintained. It really was all coming together. Razvan Dranca our biggest secured our next try from a mighty fine rolling maul with Tom Fawssett securing a great conversion (19 -17).

With simple, consistent and energetic style A&C gave Bedford little and it was wee and slender Ben Harris, home grown and our scrum half who sniped, jumped and sprinted over the line for a largely undefended try. Again, converted by a confident Fawssett (26-17). With more Bedford mistakes re-sulting from A&C intensity turn, 5th try was scored by our spotlighted No8 Kazeem Olayinka. Again converted (33-17). As the match approached its end Bedford were rewarded for their tenacity with a third try and conversion (33-24).

Impressively A&C then finished the game holding Bedford up after an attacking maul. 5 tries to 3.

Well-deserved win and now 10th out of 12. We are now travelling to visit Bedford’s last victims Old Northamptonshire (3rd). Our first away win now the target. Windy and wet can be the biggest leveler possible? A great test next week for our wonderful sponsors at the Natural Laundry.

See you there

Team - 1. Razvan Dranca 2. Joe Batt 3. Charlie Swerling 4. Jordan Scott 5. Harry Bradshaw 6. Mike Everett 7. Josh Finch (C) 8. Kazeem Olayinka 9. Ben Harris 10. Alex Bower 11. Rory Foster 12. Noah Jarvis 13. Dan Kingsley 14. Tom Fawssett 15. Ben Pothecary 16. Max Mor-phey 17. Jacques O’Driscoll 18. James Morrison