Bedford Blues 24 Leeds Carnegie 33: Surging Leeds have one foot in promotion play-offs

Edwards’ side have risen up to third in the table following this penultimate game of the season and face second-placed Nottingham next Saturday at Headingley Carnegie to cement their top-four play-off place.

Edwards said: “I am very proud of the squad. They showed how much they have matured this season. Our fate is in our own hands now and we need to make the most of it against Nottingham.”

Only leaders Newcastle and Bristol had won at Bedford this season, but Leeds ran in three tries inside the opening 17 minutes. The first came from Joe Ford who made the most of an advantage near the Blues’ line to chip ahead and touch down.

Brendan Burke hit back for Bedford before a brace of tries from Carnegie saw them take a decisive lead. Josh Griffin finished off the first and then from the re-start Stevie McColl set David Doherty free to race down the wing. Ford converted all three and added a penalty to put Leeds 24-5 in front. Burke grabbed a second try for Bedford but Ford edged Leeds further in front with a penalty either side of half-time.

Bedford mounted a second-half revival, mainly through their pack, and had the lion’s share of possession but could only muster tries from close range from No 8 Tom Armes and lock Paul Tupai.

Crucially Ford had kicked his fourth penalty in between the tries and that was enough to secure the win for the visitors.

Bedford Blues: Ransom, Stephenson, Burke, Atkinson (Dodge, 64), Bassett, Sharp (Dorrian, 58), Baldwin (Veenendaal, 78), Fearn, Cochrane, Seal (Cooper, 58), Howard (Fenton-Wells, 58), Tupai, Gillanders, Fox, Armes (Vandermolen, 56). Unused replacement: Locke.

Leeds Carnegie: McColl, Goss, Griffin, Lucock, D Doherty, Ford, Hampson (J Doherty, 35), Imiolek (Harris, 60), Freer (Graham, 60), Currie (Tussac, 78), Green, Barrow (Phillips, 70), Baldwin, Walker (Burrows, 56), Rowan. Unused replacement: Georgiou.

Referee: I Tempest (RFU).