ALL GOLDS TAME THE TIGERS

BEDFORD TIGERS 20 – 32 BRISTOL ALL GOLDS

Christopher Wilson at Bedford Athletic RFC

SUMMARY

The All Golds twice came from behind to beat Bedford Tigers 32-20 in an entertaining game played in hot and muggy conditions. Three tries in ten minutes from Sol Platt, Will Armour and Leon Atherton turned a 6-0 deficit into a 16-6 lead but a Tigers try just before the break kept the game in the balance.

The Tigers ran in two tries early in the second half to edge in front 20-16 but again the All Golds struck three times through Oli Winterbottom, Harry Mills and Brandon Lamb to take a lead which they held to the final whistle.

Mills put in a fine display of strong running and solid tackling with the rest of the team following his lead. Despite a number of unforced errors that gave the Tigers some easy metres and good field position, the All Golds’ defence recovered to rescue the situation.

The result keeps the All Golds in the running for the top four with two games to go before the play-offs.

FULL REPORT

On a warm and muggy day in Bedford, the Bristol All Golds came from behind twice to earn the points in a hugely entertaining game.

The purist might say there were a few too many errors, but there was plenty of flowing rugby league to keep those watching enthralled.

The All Golds started really strongly, pressing the home line but it was the Tigers that took the lead. Callum Merrett’s kick was misjudged by the onrushing attackers and Josh Hudson-Lett grabbed the ball and set off for the line 90 metres away.

Despite being chased all the way, he made it to the line to open the scoring. Jack Brown added the goal for a 6-0 advantage.

The All Golds almost replied immediately but Mason Ball was ruled to have knocked on over the line. Five minutes later Josh Fitzgerald couldn’t ground the ball as he chased his own grubber kick to the in-goal.

However, with a quarter of the game gone, the All Golds got their reward and drew level. After four tackles on the home line, Sol Platt jumped out from dummy half and scored by the posts. Oli Winterbottom added the extras and the All Golds pressed home their advantage.

After a penalty on their next set, the All Golds kicked to the wing on the last tackle, the ball was batted down by Leon Atherton and caught by Will Armour who scored his first try for the club.

Winterbottom’s conversion attempt flashed across the posts, but he was soon lining up another kick. Merrett’s kick downfield was fielded by Hudson-Lett who was bundled into touch by Atherton and Armour.

Three plays later, Winterbottom fed Atherton who stepped inside a defender then outside another for an excellent finish.

It was all going well for the All Golds with a16-6 lead going into the break but late in the half Greg Hamilton failed to find touch with a penalty and the Tigers created an opportunity for Bailey Thomas to force his way over from close range.

Emerging from the half-time huddle trailing by a single score, the Tigers seized the initiative after Brandon Lamb had touched down a loose ball only to be ruled to have knocked on when contesting possession.

The Tigers lifted their intensity and began to make inroads in the All Golds’ defence but it took a dreadful error from Dom Williams who dithered over clearing a kick from the in-goal and lost possession allowing Stuart Logier to put a hand on the loose ball.

In three minutes, the Tigers had taken the score from 10-16 to 20-16 and were looking to build on that lead.

The All Golds could have crumbled but they redoubled their efforts and four minutes later Winterbottom forced his way over out wide to level the scores with just over a quarter of the game to go.

Harry Mills had an excellent game, and it was his try – his first in All Golds colours – that gave the All Golds the lead again. Taking the ball at pace ten metres from the line, he broke a double tackle and stepped away from another before crashing over the line. Winterbottom’s goal gave the All Golds a 26-20 lead which was extended with 12 minutes left.

Merrett’s long kick towards the corner bounced awkwardly for Hudson-Lett who lost possession while trying to stay in the field of play in Atherton’s tackle. The ball fell to the ground and Lamb was on hand to pick up and touch down.

Winterbottom put two scores between the teams with the goal and the All Golds held on to their lead despite a late scare as the Tigers were stopped on a desperate last-tackle tilt at the line.

Completing a league double over the Tigers has kept the All Golds well in the hunt for a place in the top four and a tilt at the league title, with two rounds of matches to go.

MatchStats

Teams:

TIGERS: Bailey Thomas (Capt.); Stuart Logier, Josh Kerr, Luke Wilson, Josh Hudson-Lett; Elliot Hutchings, Jack Brown; Sam Richbell, Jake Tilford, Dan Barber; Nicholas Farr, James Little; Lewis Sharp; INTERCHANGE: Jordan Marshall, Rory Town, Jack Hill, Rob Ashton.

Scorers:

Tries: Hudson-Lett (8, 50), Thomas (37), Logier (53)

Goals: Brown 2 from 4.

ALL GOLDS: Oliver Winterbottom; Leon Atherton, Mason Ball, Will Armour, Dom Williams; Josh Fitzgerald, Callum Merrett; Brandon Ball, Sol Platt, Oghenetaga Rume-Tabiowo; Harry Mills, Brandon Lamb (Capt.); Jack Uren; INTERCHANGE: Morgan Lewis, Greg Hamilton, George Murray, Adam Turner. 18^th Player (not used) Joe Daly.

Scorers

Tries: Platt (21), Armour (25), Atherton (31), Winterbottom (57), Mills (63), Lamb (68),

Goals: Winterbottom 4 from 6. 

Scoring sequence: 6-0, 6-6, 6-10, 6-16, 10-16, (HT), 16-16, 20-16, 20-20, 20-26, 20-32, (FT)

Penalties: Tigers 5-8 All Golds

Referee: Gareth Winnard (RFL)

All Golds Player of the Match: Harry Mills’ all-round game in attack and defence earned him the award over a number of other stand-out performances across the team. Mills’ defence was solid throughout and his carries took several defenders to stop. His try midway through the second half was well-taken and put the All Golds back in front – a lead they didn’t relinquish.