A NEW-look Nottingham Rugby Academy was overcome 12-5 by Bedford in their opening match of the season.

With 10 older players unavailable due to league and cup commitments with clubs in the Constituent Body, seven debutant were given the nod against a Blues Academy outfit that had already registered five convincing wins since mid-August.

While the Green and Whites young guns failed to upset the form book, huge positives were taken from the game.

Bedford came out of the blocks strong but poor handling, penalties and good defence by the hosts meant the game remained scoreless for the first 30 minutes.

Scrum half Josh Gundry (Trent College) made some darting runs, but the Blues defence remained firm and time and again denied Nottingham's offensive assaults.

Still, Bedford did enough to open a 7-0 half-time lead.

The Academy began to get into its rhythm in the second half with the forwards, led by Captain Rory Mason (Paviors), proving too strong for the Blues.

Great work from Ollie Barnes (Nottingham Trent University) and Chester Scott (Mansfield) at the breakdown ensured that the back line was well serviced. 

Winger Kieran Taylor (Kesteven) showed a combination of great instincts, silky footwork and turn of speed to pounce on a turn-over on half way to create Nottingham's best chance of the match.

A brilliant off-load to prop Ewan Bartlett (Loughborough) and some tenacious work by the forward resulted in a memorable first try of the campaign.

Bedford and Nottingham both grew in confidence as the game went on but both teams were frustrated by an endless stream of penalties.  Bedford finally breached the Academy defences after some great work by their scrum half to make the final score 12-5.

Read more in the next edition of ENGAGE, Your Essential Green and Whites Magazine, available at Meadow Lane Stadium on match days.

NEXT MATCH: Nottingham Rugby Academy v Moseley Colts. October 27, 1430 kick-off at Billesley Common.

Nottingham Rugby Academy team that faced Bedford: 1 Rory Mason (Paviors) CAPTAIN 2 Chester Scott (Mansfield) 3  Alex Boggis (Uni of Nottm) 4 Ali Wheedon (Burton) 5 Ollie Barnes (Nottm Trent Uni) 6 Will Limb (Mansfield) 7 Max Halsall (Lincoln) 8 Matt Frings  Paviors) 9 Josh Gundry (Trent College) 10   Jack Partington (Loughborough) 11    Kieran Taylor (Kesteven) 12 Kieron Machin (Lutterworth) 13 Cameron Hudson (Kesteven) 14 Grant Ward (Kesteven) 15 Angus Calderwood (Paviors) Replacements: 16 Ewan Bartlett (Loughborough) 17 Daniel Hyams (Paviors) 18 Xavier Martin 19 Haydn Wood (Paviors) 20 Will Bettinson-Eatch (Paviors) 21 Richard Fletcher (Paviors) 22 Jordan Ingledew (Worksop College) 23Jack Parr (Mansfield) 24 Ian Bide (Kesteven) 25 Liam Westcott (Newark)