Warriors fall to defeat at Bedford

Worcester Warriors suffered a first defeat since round four of Champ Rugby, falling 35-19 at the hands of Bedford Blues.

Four first-half tries for the Blues set the hosts well on the way to victory, with a late Warriors onslaught in the second period not enough to earn a bonus point.

Bedford’s opener came five minutes into the game when Michael Le Bourgeois strolled over after a tap penalty move, with Will Maisey adding the first of five successful conversions.

Le Bourgeois had two minutes later, breaking the tackle in the Warriors' line to double his side's lead with ten minutes on the clock.

Warriors pushed for a way back into the game and were denied a first try when the ball was judged to been spilt inches out from the Bedford line.

With just a few minutes left of the half, Bedford added a third when Louis James cut through the Warriors' defence.

And things went from bad to worse for Worcester when James added his second and Blues' fourth on the stroke of half-time, with Warriors centre Tom Seabrook seeing yellow in the process.

It took till after Seabrook returned from his yellow for any scores to be added, and it was Worcester who grabbed it when Will Trewin crossed after some slick handling from the backs opened up the space outwide.

An immediate response from the Blues saw Tui Uru add his side's fifth from close range, killing the momentum the Warriors opener brought.

As the game edged towards the final whistle Warriors crossed for two tries, first through Will Reed who strolled over, before James Short crossed from close range for his second try in two weeks as the game ticked into the red.

Blues 35

T – Michael Le Bourgeois 5’,  9’, Louis James 37’, 40’, Tui Uru 56’

C – Will Maisey 5’, 9’, 37’, 40’, 56'

Warriors 19

T – Will Trewin 52’, Will Reed 77’, James Short 80’

C – Tiff Eden 77’, 80’

YC – Tom Seabrook 40’

Bedford Blues Team

15 Louis James, 14 George Worth (Hutler HT), 13 Lucas Titherington, 12 Michael Le Bourgeois 11 Dean Adamson, 10 Will Maisey (Price 60’), 9 Alex Day © (Weimann 63’); 1 Joey Conway (Jack 49,’) 2 James Fish (Herman 49’), 3 Oisin Heffernan (Tonga’uiha 60’), 4 Rory Ward, 5 Alex Woolford (Sylvester 60’), 6 Fred Tuilagi, 7 Fyn Brown (Finch 46’), 8 Tui Uru

Worcester Warriors Team

15 Will Trewin (Tiff Eden 71’), 14 Jake Garside, 13 Tom Seabrook, 12 Billy Twelvetrees (James Short 63’), 11 Juan González, 10 Will Reed, 9 Lloyd Williams © (Will Lane 63’); 1 Livai Natave (Cam Miell 50’), 2 Will Biggs (Jasper Spandler 45’), 3 Tim Hoyt (Ashley Challenger 29’), 4 Obinna Nkwocha (Hallam Chapman 56’), 5 James Tyas, 6 Tim Anstee, 7 Thabo Ndimande (Austin Wallis 50’), 8 Khalik Kareem