REPORT | Blues defeated at Chinnor

Bedford Blues' longest unbeaten run since 1998 came to a crushing end as they fell to a 27-17 reverse at Chinnor, the first time this season they've failed to pick up anything in terms of league points for their troubles.

Make no bones about it, Blues were beaten by the better team on the day. Yes, a crucial moment in the 55th minute went against them and if the decision had gone the other way and the bonus point try awarded, it could have been so different. But it went the way it did and Mike Rayer's men will have to lick their wounds. 

There's just something about Kingsey Road that brings out some of the worst in Bedford. Chinnor were very good, take nothing away from them, and they executed their game plan very well to suffocate Blues and afford them next to no time on the ball. 

But this playing group demand so much more of themselves, and would have expected to figure out the puzzle in-front of them. They had their moments, but if we're honest, they were too few and far between and Chinnor were clinical when they had the opportunities. 

A concern will be the total lack of discipline in the last half an hour. Penalty after penalty after penalty and Bedford were made to pay for it, even surrendering their losing bonus point in the process. 

Positives again at the set piece against a Chinnor side who have become renowned for dominating the battle up front. They had the full front row in Team of the Week in Round 12, but Blues looked good in those areas and were perhaps unlucky not to see an opposition prop sin binned for persistant scrum penalties. 

There's not many games where the side who dominates the set piece find themselves on the wrong side of the result. So credit to Chinnor in that sense for wrestling momentum in the loose and dictating the play in that way. 

Billy Pasco, Fred Tuilagi and Ryan Hutler were the try scorers from a Bedford perspective but let's not dress it up, a much improved performance will be needed against Coventry next week, old rivals who are in form and could leapfrog Rayer's side in the table with victory at Goldington Road.