The Tigers Men got their 2026 Southern Conference campaign off to a winning start in a thrilling win in Bristol.

The Bristol games are always tough, physical games and the Tigers could have been nervous about their lack of game preparation having had our first game of the season postponed. While there may have been some ring rust there was certainly no shortage of attitude and resilience.

Having gone behind to an early Bristol try the Tigers posted four unanswered. Bailey Thomas assisting both Elliott Holton and Sam Elrick while Josh Spearing did the same for Elrick out wide. Elliott Hutchings opened his account for the club with the first of two individual efforts that would prove the difference on the day.

The lesson learned is not to get board of being dominant. The Tigers switched off and allowed Bristol to enjoy a purple patch of their own, coming back from the scores down to go in at half time all square.

The second half was more of the same. The momentum swing both ways, not least because of a sin bin on either side. With ten minutes to go it was 34 all and the game was waiting for a break. Hutchings provided it with an 80m kick return that lit the venue up. Crucially the Tigers would keep possession of the ball and Josh Spearing, returning from 18 months out through serious injury, was able to use his experience to control the pace of the game. Jake Tilford and Garin Nicholls both crashed over for tries that finished the game off and took the Tigers past the half century mark!

"To start the season with the toughest away day logistically was never going to be easy and to come away with the two points really sets the season up for us." commented director of rugby Rob Ashton. "Bristol are a side we can measure ourselves against and we'd have felt like playing catch up if we hadn't come through today with that win".

Head Coach Matt Lambert was also pleased with the result. "I'm really really pleased with the result. We've overcome a lot to get that result today. Its about system and process and when things get chaotic that system serves us well".

TRIES: Sam Elrick x3, Elliott Hutchings x2, Elliott Holton, Kayne Chan, Jake Tilford, Garin Nicholls
GOALS: Bailey Thomas 8/9
Man of the Match: Sam Elrick

Bedford Tigers RLFC

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