One that got away? Few true Coventry fans will surely feel different to that viewpoint having witnessed a fair old tussle at the Butts Park Arena.

All that said, a number of factors cannot be ignored. As player coach Brett Davey pointed out post match, several key opportunities went a begging and that allied to a far too high level of un-enforced being committed were key factors in another disappointing home defeat, even though they shaded the try count 3-2. So too however were a number of decisions which could have gone the sides way, but didn’t. One of those it has to be said was the individual try scored by Nathan Jones, subsequently ruled out by referee Vertigan on the advice of touch judge Facey, it is believed because of an offence committed in the home back row. Many home fans, as they are perfectly entitled to, felt otherwise.

It was Bedford Blues, in a white change strip who made the much better start. After Ollie Hodge had denied the visitors neaR to the home line, pressure continued leading to Patston landing the first of four penalties. Coventry replied quickly, Brett Davey however being short and wide with a 42 metre penalty attempt, a prelude to strong home pressure. Three times Cov were thwarted before being hit with a real killer punch. Close to the Blues line, Myles Dorrian floated a shortish pass only to see it intercepted by Bedford winger Page who despite the efforts of Nathan Jones was able to scoot 90 metres for the try leaving Patston with an easy conversion. 0-10 on 13 minutes and little going right for Cov.

On 23 minutes, a passage of play down the left saw the Blue and Whites put together their best move so far, before two minutes later a flipped inside pass from Dorrian set flanker Hendry Rheeders free for his second try in consecutive matches, Davey converting easily.

Four minutes later as Cov again pressurised, the ‘’ the Jones try that wasn’t’’ from a scrum 40 metres came and went, Cov’s scrum half stealing possession from the base of the scrum before tearing over in the corner, only to be brought back.

The high error count however continued to blight Coventry’s play and they were made to pay right on half time. Bedford put together several quality phases of handling before finally Page crossed wide out, the conversion this time failing.

From 7-15 at the break, Cov then came out however in a very positive frame of mind, knowing  in reality that they had to score first. Two tries in the opening nine minutes of the second half  emphatically answered that point. After a Davey break was held, Myles Dorrian latched on to a loose ball just inside the Bedford half to set off on a thrilling 40 metre run evading an attempted tackle from the visitors Dickson before crossing wide out, Davey missing the difficult conversion. Cov’s coach however was more successful five minutes later after Kurt Johnson crossed wide out for his 96th Cov league try and it had become 19-15.

Three points were chipped back by Patston four minutes later and with Bedford continuing to press it took some stern home defence to keep the visitors out. Penalty number three for Patston and Bedford came on 74 minutes, Coventry being caught offside , before the Butts Park men all but took the spoils close to full time. With pressure on the Bedford right, a long floated pass however fell behind the unmarked Johnson and another opportunity went begging.

As Coventry seven minutes into added time attempted a counter from their ‘’22’’, Johnson was penalised for not releasing, Patston having no difficulty in landing a final penalty from 24 metres.

Another bonus point, it could and probably should have been more. One win at home however since the end of October is not however a very happy statistic

Coventry. Ben Toft, Kurt Johnson, Donovan Sanders, Myles Dorrian, Sam Montague, Brett Davey, Nathan Jones, Carl Rimmer, Chris Whitehead, Rudi Brits, Ollie Hodge, Ian Nimmo, Hendry Rheeders, Darren Clayton, Laurie McGlone (Capt)

Coventry Replacements. Stuart Friswell for Whitehead, Dai Maddocks for Rimmer, Gregor Gillanders for O Hodge, Tom Slater for Jones Not used; Danny Hodge, Lee Parry, Rob Dugard

Bedford. Tries Alex Page 2. Conversion; Ben Patston 1. Penalty goals; Patston 4