Hackney Bulls charge to victory over top of the table Bedford

Hackney Bulls go up against Bedford. Photo: Philip Kirkpatrick

In a hard-fought game on Sunday 13 February which ebbed and flowed throughout the first half, Hackney Bulls notched up a highly impressive win over Bedford who are top of the Herts and Middlesex Under-14s League 6.

The home fixture started with both teams searching for forward dominance on a muddy Spring Hill pitch. Raffi Dutta opened the scoring for Hackney running onto the ball from a spoiled Bedford line out close to their try line. But the top of the table visitors came straight back with well-taken tries from Nicholas Leason-White and their captain Luke Vale.

Towards the end of the first half a storming run from the half way line by Charlie Couve brought the Bulls level with fly-half Calum Oakley coverting to make it 12-10 to the home team.

With all to play for in the second half the Bull forwards upped their work-rate and began to secure more ball for the quick backs to use. Centre Matt Nairn scored twice, outpacing the cover defence in a 50 metre dash down the touch line for his his first try before Bedford hit back with a try to keep them in the match. But with Bulls No 8 Collin Kpodonu and blindside flanker Fergus Mason increasingly prominent in loose play Hackney pressed home their advantage with two of the best tries of the match. Kpondonu scored a superb try after a blistering run from inside his own half then wing Michael Taylor went over in the last few minutes making the final score 41-20.

A great win for the Bulls against quality opponents.