Championship round 17

I know I am completely biased and fully appreciate my view is not always shared by the opposition supporters or the officials but I don’t think I’ve ever seen a ref take against one team quite so dramatically after half time. He was pretty even first half. Some disputable decisions either way but that’s always the case. Did someone say something rude to him at half time? I’m not one to usually complain about officials after a game and am fully aware we gave some silly penalties away. Usually it evens itself out over 80 mins but when he starts giving a mark to the opposition when the ball is caught outside the 22 then you know it’s not your day. And don’t start me on the winger’s offside and how the AR missed that I’ll never know. Right under his nose!

I am truly baffled. 

I’m the first to say fair play when the opposition beat you fair and square and the pirates deserved it on their 2nd half professionalism but I left feeling all the energy joy and hope had been sucked out of that game in the second half after a good open first half from both sides.  Fair play to Pirates - they did a job, used their nous and quietened the crowd etc but blimey too much of that 2nd half will turn the crowds away. 

Still, you play the ref and Pirates were probably just worth the win.

I have calmed down a bit from last night and in the cold light of day have to take my hat off to pirates as they played the officials better than we did. They twigged the officials weren’t policing offside but we didn’t. I know the BPA calls for offside and always take with a pinch of salt  as I know both sides are as guilty but that one with the winger - really?

If that is the rule on claiming a mark then fair enough and I give way on that. I felt we were on the rough end of the officials with at least 3 penalties which I still can’t fathom today (but I expect I am not unusual in that). The problem with that against the pirates is you know that they will kick it to the corner and maul it over for a try whilst you are still scratching your head for what the original offence was but hey ho I suppose that happens to everyone and we’ll get the benefit on another day. 

Well done Pirates and we move on to the next game. 

If so, yes, he's excellent.

Another loaner I believe, but excellent.

I wish I knew Baggins, we looked very good early on in the season, had a great, gutsy performance and win against Jersey, and now the wheels have fallen off. 

Like many teams, we seem to have multiple changes each game, which doesn’t make life easy, but yesterday, we just didn’t want it, well 12 of them didn’t seem to. We had no ambition, made only a few line breaks, it just wasn’t a Bedford performance we are all used to and love to watch.

I always feel Bedford play better when their is no wind, rain and firm ground. But we seem to struggle with winter weather. Which with a season ending in March is not allowing us much time to play the style we prefer. 

With two home games left (which seems daft as I write it) that Friday night v Coventry looks more important than ever.

Seems the weather in the UK is always going to be against Bedford then 

Better weather suits our style of play for sure, but we are usually OK in the wet stuff, even if we still try to chuck it about. We just seem dull at the moment, no edge, no bite, going through the motions.

Well as a DMP supporter I'm shocked that with the same pack as before plus a Wales U20 captain at flanker, we can no longer scrumage or compete. I can only say it must be down to a change in coaching, it's becoming somewhat embarrassing to watch. If we get the ball out the backs are phenomenal but they are just not getting any ball