Rugby Union: Yapp lapses costs Bedford

Bedford 22

Newcastle 29

NEWCASTLE were saved by a touch of mastery from Rob Andrew, and two crucial penalty goal misses by Tony Yapp.

For Bedford, who battled the elements so bravely in the second half only to be undone by a last-minute try, it was another case of heroism in defeat, after recent similar agonies against Leicester and Northampton. I guess that's why they call them the Blues.

Money is in short supply at both these clubs, but every man jack of the 3,900 crowd at Goldington Road would consider their precious pounds well spent, the result notwithstanding. The two sides made light of the foulness of weather and a slippery surface to serve up some cracking entertainment.

Pity poor Yapp, whose two penalty misses from short range with the scores tied at 22-22 in the last six minutes, cost Bedford dear. The outside- half had earlier banged over five penalties and the conversion of Junior Paramore's try in first-half injury-time, which gave Bedford a lead of 16-10 at the interval.

The suspicion that this margin would not be enough when Newcastle had the wind behind them was borne out, but only in the final seconds did the Falcons seize the win. Andrew, who had switched from centre to outside- half when Jonny Wilkinson went off injured at half-time, was quick to spot an opportunity to turn defence into attack. The former England No 10's raking kick from deep forced a Bedford winger Bed Whetstone into conceding a line-out. A simple Newcastle catch and drive, even without the sin-binned Garath Archer, a quick maul and the scrum-half Gary Armstrong squirmed over for a try.

It was Newcastle's fourth try to Bedford's one, which merited victory in itself. Andrew's always slick passing augmented the heavy mob up front, but most of the questions they asked of Bedford's defence were answered in spades.

Newcastle's tactic of the back line pressing up hard in defence at all times cost them a couple of first-half penalties kicked by Yapp but it also created their first try after 34 minutes.

Martin Shaw flattened Joe Ewens with a classic offensive tackle and Tony Underwood sprinted clear over 85 metres of sodden turf to the try-line to celebrate his recall to the England squad last week.

It was a case of splash and grab but Bedford stayed in the hunt when Paramore bundled past Underwood and Pete Massey for his try.

Wilkinson's replacement, Jim Naylor, slid in for Newcastle's second try 10 minutes into the second half and a brutal drop of the shoulder by Va'aiga Tuigamala took the former All Black through 11 minutes later.

Yapp's lapses, one penalty to the left, the other to the right, sign- posted Newcastle's escape route.

Bedford: S Howard; B Whetstone, J Ewens, A Murdoch, D O'Mahony; T Yapp, C Harrison (R Elliott, 69); N Hatley, J Richards, V Hartland (C Boyd, h-t), D Zaltzman, A Duke, J Cockle (M Deans, 59), J Forster, J Paramore.

Newcastle: P Massey; T Underwood, M Shaw, R Andrew, V Tuigamala; J Wilkinson (J Naylor, h-t), G Armstrong; N Popplewell (G Graham, 49), R Nesdale, I Peel, G Archer, D Weir, P Walton, S O'Neill, D Ryan.

Referee: Chris Reeks (Somerset).