The Blues came out on top against a determined Welsh side in front of a crowd of 4,000 at Goldington Road on Boxing Day.
In a high scoring first half the Blues went in three points to the good at 20-17 as both sides started with real purpose. The visitors took the lead with a 2 nd minute converted try from Mackey but after Thomas and Pritchard had exchanged penalties the home side took control.
Two tries in as many minutes from Davey and Dorrian, both converted by Pritchard, and a 38 th minute penalty from the Canadian had the Blues cruising until they conceded a penalty try in first half stoppage time. Referee Roberts penalising the Blues for repeated infringements at the scrum.
The Welsh edged ahead with two further Thomas penalties after the break before Pritchard tied the scores with his third successful shot at goal on the hour. The match was then settled nine minutes from time as Luke Fielden won the foot race to Dorrian`s chip ahead for his side’s third try of the game. Pritchard converted to seals the win for Bedford.
Moseley produced another performance of two halves as they clung on to a priceless derby victory over Coventry.
Playing down the Billesley Common slope in the first half the home side raced to a 13-0 lead inside the first fifteen minutes as Gloucester loanee Jordi Pasqualin touched down, with Tristan Roberts adding the conversion and two penalties.
Coventry briefly rallied with a converted try from James Lewis and a further penalty from Thomas before two further Roberts penalties made it 19-10 to Moseley at the break.
But playing up the hill for Moseley was once again a problem and after Johnny May’s superb 80 metre solo try in the 46 th minute which Roberts converted, Coventry dominated.
Aaron Carpenter and James Lewis added further tries to bring Coventry back within six points but Moseley desperately held on in a frenetic final quarter to claim the spoils, despite huge appeals from the visitors for a penalty try late in the game.
Bristol gained revenge for their mauling by the Chiefs at the Memorial Stadium earlier in the season with a four-try show to nudge the Chiefs from the top of the table.
The Chiefs held an early 6-3 lead to the delight of the 7,405 crowd as two Steenson penalties cancelled out an effort fro Adrian Jarvis. But with Junior Fatialofa sin-binned for a late hit on Exeter’s Paul MacKenzie the home side were unable to make their advantage tell and Bristol punished them.
Hooker David Blaney found space on the left flank for the opening try and Jarvis` conversion left the Chiefs trailing 10-6 at the break.
Steenson cut the deficit to a single point at the start of the second half but two quick tries from Bristol in response proved to be the knock-out blow required as Tom Arscott and Roy Winters crashed over the home line.
Bristol flanker James Phillips sealed the bonus point with a fourth try ten minutes from time before a late Exeter rally was rewarded with a converted score for Nic Sestaret.
Championship Index 09/10
