Top five target for Deepings after win over Bedford Swifts

Deepings skipper Guy Cunningham has backed his side to break into the Midlands Four East (South) top five after getting back to winning ways against B

MIDLANDS FOUR EAST (SOUTH) - Deepings 30 Bedford Swifts 19

An inspirational performance by fly half Alex Arch set up the Green Machine’s first win over the Bedforshire opponents for three years, as well as bouncing back from successive defeats to lift the home fans at Linchfield Road.

Bedford held the upper hand in a tight first half which ended 10-7 after a converted try and penalty for the visitors were almost matched by one of two tries for second row forward Jack Rogers.

But a 35-yard drop goal by Arch completely changed the game as Deepings scored two quick tries early in the second half, the second for Rogers and one for Cunningham himself in his first appearance since the 62-5 mauling of Stamford College Old Boys a month ago.

Arch touched down for a try himself before a tiring Deepings back line let the Swifts in for a couple of consolation tries at the end.

Deepings are sixth on 14 points, level with another Bedford-based side Queens, as they go into a two-week break.

Cunningham said: “It was quite a good win in the end, having started off on the back foot when they scored a try on the breakaway, running the full length of the pitch after we’d come close to scoring a try ourselves.

“After scoring a try to make it 10-7 at half-time, we scored two very quick tries as the match became a bit of a battle.

“Then we scored a third try in the second half in a game we didn’t really expect to win.

“A couple of players have come from injury and some who were watching Rugby World Cup games, all of whom stepped up to the plate to help us get a win over a side we hadn’t beaten for three years.

“I’m fairly confident now that we can go into each game believing we can win and if the lads keeping putting in performances like the one against Swifts, there’s no reason why we can’t make the top five in the league.”

Full story: Lincs Free Press