BEDFORD ATHLETIC 36, MALVERN 31

A VIRTUOSO performance by Malvern was turned into defeat following some bizarre refereeing decisions at Bedford.

A four-try second-half fightback, coupled with Haywards Heath’s defeat at North Walsham in London One, secured Bedford’s survival.

With Athletic needing a win to stay up, they began well with a second-minute converted try and then added a penalty four minutes later.

Malvern replied when openside flanker Simon Daws intercepted a chip and sped 40 metres in to score. The visitors took hold of the game and a tap-penalty saw Ryan Watkins make inroads for wing Greg Summers to go over and give Tom Longley a simple conversion.

The Bedford skipper was then sin-binned for a high tackle on Kieron Harvey.

Tom Beechey switched the direction of play and hooker Aaron Clark was on hand to put Longley in for a 17-8 lead at the break.

The second-half started with Watkins making ground before being tackled into touch.

The Malvern forwards stole the line-out and Watkins burst through to score, Longley converting.

Beechey then grabbed a try of his own, which Longley improved. It was at this point that the match changed.

A well-worked try pulled back seven points.

Then the referee’s decisions began to go against Malvern. Longley was contentiously sin-binned and, within minutes, full-back Harvey followed him, although a Bedford player had seemed not to release the ball when tackled.

Instead of Malvern being awarded the penalty, it was given to the home side, who made the most of their good fortune to add another score.

More Bedford penalties and another converted try reduced the gap to two points.

As the game went into injury-time, the Athletic scrum-half dived over the line following a five-metre scrum.

The number nine appeared to drop the ball, allowing Malvern to ground it, but the referee awarded a match-winning try.