Notwithstanding their place at the bottom of the league, the 1st XV started 2023 with optimism and the belief that better times were head of them. It is said that a league table never lies, but at the same time it may not necessarily tell the whole truth. The Hertford performance on Saturday showed that they are a good team that can only get better. Hertford were dynamic and dominant for large parts of the game, showed some good game management, and in the final 10 minutes as Bedford attacked from every corner of the pitch the defence and determination was resolute.

Given the centurion defeat by Bedford earlier in the season, this was an immense result. The rugby swingometer cannot properly describe the impact of the win, which was personal for the players and coaches, and so important for the Club.

After Saturday's bonus point victory, which lifted Hertford 2 places up the league, we now face 9 consecutive weekends of rugby, with 5 games at home. There will be some bumps during the run-in to the final game of the season against Medway on 11 March, but the foundations have been built for improvement and some further big results.

Following an early penalty for the visitors, Hertford took the game to Bedford, going downhill but against a strong wind. Hertford's mountainous front row bomb squad of Bellringer, Basra, and club booklet beauty Hewitt were exerting huge pressure on the Bedford scrum. Following some disruption to a troubled scrum in Bedford's 22, Bedford tried to exit but McGurk forced a turnover and released Cavlan to charge over the line. Lemon converted to make it 7-3.

McGurk, who had his debut at the beginning of the season before university commitments took over, made a massive impact in the game playing at No 7. Energetic effective defence throughout, alongside a concerted effort to keep the ball alive when needed. (It should also be recorded that McGurk avoided his pernod in September, but along with Saturday's debutant Gilchrist, was completely unperturbed by the Basra-Hewitt shaker after the game and they almost looked as if they enjoyed it. Some in the bar crowd queried if the youngsters had been practicing at home.)

Scrum half Hale, who has so often this season led the charge, sustained a dead leg which curtailed his usual, occasionally maverick exploits, but remained on the field to continue the key distribution roll.

Bedford responded by securing another penalty to make it 7-6.

This was much of the pattern of the first half, some good industrious work by Hertford followed by some efficient work by Bedford who would draw the penalty and kick with the wind behind them.

Following some back peddling from Hertford as they defended a kick, Batty (in at full back, with Lemon moving to the wing) produced some very neat feet and interchanges with Hale as they made 50 metres, before offloading to Banna to do some damage. Hertford then secured a lineout near the Bedford 22 and, as they did throughout the day, set off a powerful rolling maul towards the Bedford line. The maul didn’t quite make it, but following some forays from Basra and Banna, the backs were desperate for the ball. Having seen a gap, Holman was bellowing for the pass, and eventually received it before committing a defender and flicking the ball onto Sorce, who dived hard and low for the line to score. The conversion was missed and the score was 12-6.

Hertford were rampant. Yet more lineout drives, powerful scrummaging, and strong drives from the forwards. Hertford played the conditions really well, and it suited the grunt and gnarl of Keens in particular, who was, as ever, a handful. Kinsley and Swift were also able to make a couple of breaks.

Even with the wind, life was difficult for Bedford as they were harried in possession and at the set piece and ruck. Swift was stealing ball in the line, and Bedford were regularly pressurised in the loose, with charge downs by Swift, and entangling defence by McGurk and Keens, making it difficult for Bedford to get any momentum. It felt as if further points should come, but we were held out. Banna, who almost never started the game due to ilness had to leave the fray as the exhaustion took it's toll, but the Hertford talisman had done his bit and set the tone for the game. His able replacement, Josh Wood, was straight into the action and managing to cut down the Bedford backs.

It was not until the last minutes of the half that Bedford were able to get into the game and they showed what they could do. Another penalty was conceded and scored to make it 12-9, and just when Hertford needed to kill off the half they seemed to lose their intensity. Bedford secured a turnover and then one of their players broke from a ruck to run in from 25 metres to make it 12-16 at half time.

We had been undone by penalties and some loose play right at the end of the half, but the spells of dominance showed that they could turn it back on in the second half and win. The strong wind disappeared at half time, so this kicking advantage was lost.

Jones was brought on in the front row for the start of the second half, offering some further dynamism and ball play. Hertford carried on with the good aspects of the first half. Fielding a deep kick, Lemon slid and slipped his way out of the waterlogged 22, before powering forward and then booting the ball into the Bedford 22. The kick chase was really good and Wood secured a turnover right in front of the posts on the 22. Easy decision and 3 points to make it 15-16.

Following a 50/22 from Hertford, the lineout juggernaut got going again, but seeing yet more space Holman put in a spectacular kick pass across the pitch where Sorce out manoeuvred his marker, caught the ball at pace and went over for his second. Lemon conversion made it 22-16.

Hertford were on a roll. They secured a rare turnover at the scrum, and Bedford gave away a penalty in their 22. A difficult decision whether to go for the kick or get the lineout going again, and Captain Lemon made the sensible choice of bagging the 3 points, to make it 25-16.

Just as the home crowd were almost able to enjoy themselves, against the run of the play Bedford responded quickly when their pacy outside centre carved open the Hertford defence from 40 metres to scotch over - 25-23.

At the time this seemed to be a mere blip, as Hertford went back on the attack, but Bedford clearly had the ammunition and Hertford had been warned.

McGurk and Swift secured a turnover, and after multiple phases Lemon drew the ball wide to release Kinsley to gallop over. There was a whiff of obstruction in the build-up, but the bonus point try to make it 32-23 was hopefully enough to finish off the game.

Bedford however unleashed everything in the final 10 minutes, and attacked from everywhere. Even their props were taking quick penalties to get momentum going, and Hertford were on the back foot. Gilchrist had come on for his debut and immediately secured a strip in contact, and then had to face the onslaught. In what was almost a length of the pitch interplay, the Bedford outside centre scored another try under the posts. At 32-30 and with the knowledge that Bedford had the pace to score from anywhere, the final minutes were hard work.

Hertford showed some good game management to get back into the dangerous areas and extract another penalty for Lemon to score, to make it 35-30, but this was still not enough of a buffer.

There was controlled back-and-forth by the forwards to try and wear down the clock, as Hertford were desperate for the final whistle. Joe 90's premature declaration that the game was over had the crowd cheering and then booing the commentator as the ref was actually awarding a scrum to Bedford. Yet more defence was required, but finally the whistle came and the job was done.

We look forward to the next 9 Saturdays of rugby.

Team: Josh Hewitt, Christy Basra, Craig Bellringer (Stef Jones), Sonny Swift, James Keens, Alex Banna (Josh Wood), Callum McGurk, James Kinsley; David Hale (Ben Gilchrist), Harry Holman, Kyle Lemon (c), Harry Cavlan, Josh Rudling, Matisse Sorce, Liam Batty.

Scorers: Cavlan, Sorce (2), Kinsley

Con: Lemon 3

Pens: Lemon 3

Man of the match: Swift