Rugby Union: Cherry pickers feed on Bedford

Gloucester 31 Bedford 21

ON THE rare occasions Gloucester give anyone the red carpet treatment, it is when a royal visits their regal Kingsholm ground. Bedford seem habitually to do so. It certainly had a magic effect on Gloucester, who were allowed the freedom of the West Country for 50 minutes, given every opening to pile up a big score.

There was an air of old-fashioned courtesy about Bedford's generosity. They even obliged by having Scott Murray sent to the sin-bin for a line- out offence as early as the 11th minute, so the home eight could have more fun in the process of softening up the remaining Bedford seven. Down the years, Gloucester packs have needed no second invitation to take advantage of such opportunities, nor did they on Saturday. Chris Fortey and Steve Ojomoh barged over for typical forwards' tries, Chris Catling sped over from long distance and, with Mark Mapletoft chipping in with two conversions and a penalty, Gloucester were out of sight at 22-0, before Bedford had finished touching their forelocks.

Mind you, Bedford have spent most of the season doing this sort of thing. They gave Richmond a 20-0 start a week ago, only to pull back to 38-32, before gifting Newcastle the points, in their most recent match at Goldington Road, going down 29-22. It may be no consolation to Bedford that they are in a false position in the Premiership. If they could have started as they finished against Gloucester, their climb to mid-table security could already be underway.

Instead their deferential opening consigned them to another defeat, even though tries by Tony Yapp, Jason Forster and Danny Zaltzman - all converted by Sam Howard - were richly entertaining, if ultimately insufficient.

Gloucester: Tries Catling, Fortey, Ojomoh; Conversions Mapletoft 2; Penalties Mapletoft 4. Bedford: Tries Yapp, Zaltzman, Forster; Conversions Howard 3.

Gloucester: C Catling; B Johnson, T Fanolua, R Tombs (capt), A Lumsden; M Mapletoft, S Benton; T Windo, C Fortey, A Deacon, R Fidler, M Cornwell (D Sims 83), S Ojomoh, N Carter, S Devereux (P Glanville, 69).

Bedford: S Howard; R Underwood, A Murdoch (capt), J Ewens, D O'Mahony (B Whetstone, 14); T Yapp, C Harrison; C Boyd, J Richards, V Hartland, D Zaltzman, S Murray, J Cockle, J Forster, R Winters.

Referee: T Fisher (Warrington).