CS Produced a fifteen-man masterclass as they eased their relegation worries with a crucial win over struggling Bedford Athletic, whose members, supporters and fans were a joy to entertain. Stags forwards laid the platform with Nick Lovell a rampaging force at the heart of a dominant front row which produced much quick ball for the backs, and CS conceded no penalties all afternoon,
The Stags having fallen behind Bedford within the first quarter, raced back into the match and with a score virtually matching the 46-19 of last week finished convincing winners. Stags chalked up 7 tries to take them into the top half of the table and set up an important tie with top of the table Wimbledon this weekend.

After Bedford kicked off, Proctor fielded the ball from which CS soon worked play towards the Bedford line, and after 6 minutes Matt Pollen fed scrum half Adam Nixon who scored. Fly half Tom Hodgson converted; the first of his 6 successful kicks. 7 -0. Bedford Athletic are a far better team than their league position suggests and they roared straight back at the Stags scoring twice in the next 7 minutes. The first score started with a scrum in the middle of the pitch. The Bedford scrum half fed his fly half who in turn found his centre and the CS defence asleep, to slice through and score. The second try was a case of déjà vu. This time from a set piece the centre first found his wing, and then the other wing, who raced through CS’s non-existent tackling. 7 – 14. CS’s second try on 17 minutes was from a driving maul with hooker Josh Forrester getting the touch down; just before the half hour was reached the CS forwards again made good ground towards the visitors line and when fly half Tom Hodgson received the ball he scored by the posts 21 -14. There was time for two more tries in the first half; the first was scored by Josh Forrester who received the ball from a replacement winger, and the second resulted from a brilliant charge down by Nick Lovell who followed up to score. 33 – 14 was therefore the half time score. After the break CS needed to keep focussed but did not initially adhere to the plan as Bedford exploited the left flank to score, again with weak CS tackling an issue. 33 -19. At the end of the third quarter scrum half Nixon fed Conrad Burne who scored, and as the final whistle approached centre Ryan Martin ended a good move. 47 -19.

Next week CS have a real challenge and are at home to top of the table Wimbledon, kick off 14.00.