Bedford Blues 28 Leeds Carnegie 29: Further promise shown as Carnegie edge win

Leeds controlled territory and possession for long periods of the game but found themselves 
18-13 down at half-time as a clinical Blues outfit capitalised on Carnegie errors to run in three tries.

The advantage could have been bigger only for Blues fly-half Michael Le Bourgeois to endure a nightmare home debut with the boot and it was with some relief for the home fans when he was taken off in the second half.

After some strong words at half-time from head coach James Lowes, Leeds came out in determined fashion and not only overturned the deficit but marched into a 23-18 lead inside the first seven minutes of the half.

Winger Jonah Holmes, who is building a formidable reputation for his finishing skills, scored the try after a clever reverse pass from scrum-half Craig Hampson at the side of a ruck on halfway, and Holmes, who is on loan this season from London Wasps, burst clear and was never going to be caught.

That try was a great example of the attacking prowess in the Leeds side, as was their first effort midway through the first half.

It was scored by the returning Stevie McColl, who was drafted into the starting line-up when David Doherty pulled out in the warm up with a groin strain.

Last season’s player of the year took up where he had left off and timed his run perfectly to take the pass and cut through the defensive line after 27 minutes following a storming run by Josh Griffin.

Lozowski added the conversion to his earlier penalty to level the score after two early tries from the home side through Darren Fox and Corey Hircock.

Replacement Pritchard, who had taken over kicking duties from the hapless Le Bourgeois, then stretched his side’s lead with a try, which he failed to convert but he and Lozowski then traded penalties just before half-time.

As the old adage goes, although it was the backs who scored all the points for the visitors it was the forwards who created the winning platform for the side.

Forwards coach Tommy McGee has been a revelation since joining the club midway through last season and his well-drilled eight were too strong for their opposite numbers at the set piece.

Phil Nilsen once again led the pack in all aspects and captain Jacob Rowan set the tempo by which all others followed.

It looked as if their hard work may go unrewarded when Bedford secured a try bonus point with a Tom Arnes try after 53 minutes. Pritchard’s conversion gave his side a 25-23 lead.

However, the forwards continued to earn penalties which Lozowski made the most of, showing a cool head on young shoulders to kick two penalties, one from near the halfway line.

Pritchard set up a tense finish with a penalty six minutes from time but defensively Leeds were in tremendous shape and there was no way through for Bedford, as Carnegie finished the game showing tremendous fitness right until the end.

Leeds will finally return to Headingley Carnegie on Friday night to face newly-promoted Ealing Trailfinders and Lowes will be hoping to continue the impressive form.

“We were disappointed at half-time with how we had performed but we had still produced some good stuff,” said Lowes. “We knew we needed to improve and the players did that after the break and it was great to see Jonah Holmes go over early on in the second half. This is a tough place to come and win and we showed a lot of character out there.”

Bedford Blues: Atkinson, Hircock, Burke (Pritchard, 26), Dodge, Edwards, Michael LeBourgeois (Sharp, 40), Baldwin (Veenendaal, 65), Steenkamp (Cooper, 18), Spurling (Charlie Clare 66), Boulton, Howard (Gulliver, 54), Tupai, Barrell, (C), Vandermolen (Armes, 45)

Leeds Carnegie: McColl, Holmes, Griffin (Lucock, 56), Burdon, Gloss, Lozowski, Hampson (Doherty, 61), Harris (Lockwood, 61), Nilsen (Graham, 61), Tussac, Smith (Hannay, 61), Green, Rowan (C), Doyle (Walker 54), Burrows. Unused replacement: Armstrong.

Referee: S Lee (RFU).

Title favourites’ London Welsh continued to match Rotherham Titans at the top of the Championship table, earning their third successive triumph with a comfortable 40-9 win at home to Plymouth Albion.

Tries came from Michael Denbee, Dan Browne, Oli Steadman and a penalty try, with Gordon Ross converting all four, while also adding four penalties.

Bristol are in third place after a 26-17 win at Jersey.

Tristan Roberts was the star performer for the visitors at Rue des Landes, scoring two tries and slotting three conversions.

Ruki Tipuna had put Bristol ahead in the second minute before two scores from Roberts, one of which he converted, made it 19-0 to the visitors after only 18 minutes. Ryan Edwards extended that lead early in the second half, again Roberts converting.

Ealing Trailfinders continue to find life difficult at the higher level, this time going down 31-17 to Cornish Pirates, who moved to fourth spot as a result.

Kieran Goss scored two tries for the Pirates, with others coming from Jack Andrew, Aaron Carpenter and Tom Kessell.