Joe Stafford was again part of the Cambridgeshire team for this mid-week match.
With the selection of 11 players for eastern counties training and potential selection, this game was a test of strength in depth in Cambridgeshire rugby.
The squad was disrupted with a growing injury list and could only muster a squad of 18 for the game.
Things looked ominous as the large Bedford pack trundled out past their lilliputian opponents.Tthe match started badly as the ko was mis-fielded and Cambs immediately handed the initiative to the Bedford pack who after a series of drives deservedly took the lead.
Strangely Cambs looked galvanised by the chastening experience of trailing a team for the first ever time. With a positive raising of their heads Cambs started to play the free flowing game that suits their personnel and scored a try through Sean Cooper and expertly converted by Rory Hutchinson just before half time.
Cambs turned to play the second half down the gentle Davy Field slope, and scored amost immediately with Sam Collicott starting and finishing off a flowing 50 metre move.
Cambs now had the measure of Beds tactics, and with the back row effective at tackle and turnover, continually robbed Bedford ball to counter attack quickly. From such a scenario Rory Hutchinson was able to dummy and dart over the line and convert his own try.
Beds were not yet done and from a rare foray into Cambs territory they muscled their way over for their second forwards try.
Cambs response was instant and classic Cambs. Moving the ball from one side of the pitch then to the other, and from quick ruck ball Ollie Walker sold an outrageous dummy to score the try his man of the match performance deserved. Once again the conversion was expertly converted by the impressive Hutchinson.
Full marks to Cambs for this top rated performance in challenging circumstances.
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