REPORT: Bedford Blues 34-17 Bristol Rugby

The visitors scored three times at Goldington Road as Tommaso Benvenuti, Chris Brooker and Nick Koster crossed in a second B&I Cup defeat of the campaign.

Ben Mosses and Charlie Amesbury had gilt-edged chances to put Bristol ahead early on, but it was the home side who went in front.

Piers O’Conor showed acceleration to take advantage of a two-man overlap and fly over for an unconverted score.

The lead lasted less than five minutes however, as Tommaso Benvenuti dotted down from close range to score his first competitive try for the club, converted by Matthew Morgan.

In a breathless first period, Paul Tupai was next to cross, scrambling over the whitewash from five metres to edge the Blues back ahead at 12-7.

And Bedford pushed further in front when Dean Adamson collected a pinpoint miss-pass to canter across for a third home try of the first half.

Myles Dorrian saw a penalty goal attempt ricochet off the woodwork before half-time, but it was the visitors who reduced the arrears immediately after the interval when skipper Chris Brooker crossed from the back of a driving lineout.

Bedford kept Bristol at bay with another try shortly after. This time, Myles Dorrian latched onto a bouncing ball to touch down, before converting in front of the posts.

Dean Adamson’s second try of the afternoon – converted by Jake Sharp - put the home side in full control at 34-12, before Nick Koster’s unconverted score ten minutes from the end gave Bristol a glimmer of hope.

Joe Joyce went close at the death but the replacement lock was muscled into touch and the visitors’ winning run came to an end.

Bedford Blues:

Piers O’Conor; Pat Tapley, Michael Le Bourgeois, Ollie Dodge, Dean Adamson; Myles Dorrian, Henry Taylor; Alex Lundberg, Charlie Clare, Biyi Alo, Mike Howard, Mark Flanagan, Justin Blanchet, Nick Fenton-Wells (c), Paul Tupai.

Replacements: Sam James (for Charlie Clarie, 52 mins), Tom Williams (for Alex Lundberg, 60 mins), Phil Boulton (for Biyi Alo, 46 mins), Harry Wells (for Justin Blanchet, 40 mins), Jordan Burns (for Henry Taylor, 60 mins), Jake Sharp (for Myles Dorrian, 60 mins), Steffan Jones (for Pat Tapley, 70 mins).

Bristol Rugby:

Luke Arscott; George Watkins, Tommaso Benvenuti, Ben Mosses, Charlie Amesbury; Matthew Morgan, Will Cliff; Ellis Genge, Chris Brooker (c), Jamal Ford-Robinson, James Phillips, Glen Townson, Nick Koster, Josh Ovens, Mitch Eadie.

Replacements: Marc Jones (for Chris Brooker, 61 mins), Kyle Traynor (for Ellis Genge, 52 mins), Anthony Perenise (for Jamal Ford-Robinson, 52 mins), Joe Joyce (for James Phillips, 56 mins), Andy Uren (for Will Cliff, 61 mins), Callum Sheedy (for Matthew Morgan, 61 mins), Nick Carpenter (for Ben Mosses, 65 mins).

Referee: Nigel Correll