Kempston 20 Biggleswade 18 Bedfordshire Cup first round This tie was even and only a penalty goal in the last 10 minutes decided the issue. Biggleswade were without their centres from the previous week, two big forwards and the full-back but all the repl

Kempston 20 Biggleswade 18

Bedfordshire Cup first round

This tie was even and only a penalty goal in the last 10 minutes decided the issue.

Biggleswade were without their centres from the previous week, two big forwards and the full-back but all the replacements acquitted themselves well. Matt Keen and Tom O'Connor were the pick of the bunch in the centre where their strength in attack and defence played a big part.

But the outstanding player and man of the match for Biggleswade was Ross Taylor.

Like a batsman who is expected to score a century every time he goes to the wicket, Taylor is in a purple patch. His tackle score was as high as ever and he made both of Biggleswade's tries.

Things started pretty evenly with Biggleswade playing against the wind but with a slight slope advantage. A couple of missed tackles on two occasions saw Biggleswade 14 points down as Kempston ran in two tries that were both converted.

Biggleswade quickly hit back with a try from lock Mark Roberts - his first at the top senior level - after a break by Taylor.

Kempston stretched their lead with a drop goal but Mark Rastrick showed he could score them too with one at the other end.

The start of the second half was much like the first with both sides threatening to score.

Biggleswade's second try came late on when Taylor made a break and chipped over the defence for Keen to chase and touchdown. Rastrick's conversion narrowed the deficit to just two points.

With the game entering its final quarter, Rastrick slotted home a penalty to give Biggleswade the lead for the first time in the match but it was soon cancelled out by a late Kempston penalty.

Biggleswade skipper Rastrick said: "We are disappointed to have lost such a tight game but this is a big improvement on our last game against Kempston."

Their next league match is at home against the newly promoted Peterborough Lions outfit this Saturday.