NOTTINGHAM Rugby head coach Martin Haag insists heads
should be held high following Saturday's 93rd
minute loss to Bedford.
The Blues snatched defeat with the final swing of James
Pritchard's boot, converting Ben Ransom's try deep into added time
at Goldington Road.
Rather than dwell on the controversy and timing of the full-time
whistle, Haag shifted attention onto the three-try first-half
performance and long periods of stubborn defence by the Green and
Whites in the bonus point loss.
"We will take the positive and look at how we played in
first-half which was outstanding," Haag said.
"Ultimately, you play to the final whistle and fair play
to Bedford they piled on the second-half pressure."
The opening 40 minutes, however, were dominated by the Green and
Whites.
Fly half James Arlidge gave the visitors the ideal start with an
early penalty.
The Japan international was again in the thick of it, helping
captain Brent Wilson finish off a stunning attacking move to cross
for the opening try of the game.
The Green and Whites made the most of their opportunities before
the break, with Dan Montagu going over for his first try for the
club since his summer return from Bristol.
A James Pritchard penalty is all Bedford could muster in reply,
as Rhys Crane sealed the first half showing with an intercept
try.
Cracks, however, began to show as Nottingham defended their
19-point lead playing up the notorious Goldington Road slope.
Darryl Veenendaal gave the hosts an immediate boost when he
darted over for a 47th minute try.
Arlidge managed to disrupt Bedford's momentum with a drop goal,
but Nottingham's cause took a knock when prop Michael Holford was
shown a yellow card.
The Blues made the most of the extra man when they were awarded
a penalty try for Nottingham's repeated infringements on the
line.
Arlidge missed a prime opportunity to give Nottingham some
breathing space late in the game, but missed his penalty
attempt.
Pritchard made no such mistake and set up the tense finish with
a penalty in the 70th minute.
Bedford relentlessly searched for the winner, attacking in waves
as errors continued to creep into Nottingham's game.
While the Green and Whites were spared the killer blow when
Ransom knocked on inside the 22 late in the game, he managed to
redeem himself deep into added time.
Haag readily concedes there is room for improvement, but also
heralded Nottingham's showing against the league high-flyers.
"There were four points there for the taking, but we can't just
look at it as a game that we lost, because we showed that we can
push one of the very best teams in this league all the way," Haag
said.
Bedford Blues 27 (Veenendaal, Ransom,
penalty tries; Pritchard 3 conv; Pritchard 2 pen) d
Nottingham Rugby 25 (Wilson, Crane, Montagu tries;
Arlidge 2 conv; Arlidge drop goal; Arlidge pen)
Referee: Darren Gamage
Attendance: 2,298