With Sam Turner replacing the unavailable Harri Kinnear, Tom Hewitt and his Bedford squad were looking to return to winning ways after two consecutive league draws which has cut their lead at the top of the East Prem. Cambridge made a bright start with their captain spraying disguised passes around the field and their forwards showing some sharp movement. Charlotte Holland had a couple of early sighters at goal for Bedford hitting the target but the uni keeper made comfortable saves. Cambridge probably had the best of the opening twenty minutes, the moved the ball quickly and were first to the fifty –fifty balls although they didn’t create many goal scoring opportunities due to tight defensive work from the home side. Gradually the Bedford press began to swing the game in Bedford’s favour and forced some turnover ball with Becca Budd and Emma Pinny now frequently in possession. Bedford had good ball in wide area’s but couldn’t quite find the right pass to create openings and the uni defence were hungry to step in front and intercept. The maroons threatened from penalty corners with Pippa Jones going close and then captain Rachel Jackson struck a shot goal bound which was stopped by a uni foot in front of the line which gave BHC leading scorer Kate Costin chance to score from the shot and she duly obliged.

Into the second half and the high intensity match ebbed and flowed with two top teams playing good hockey in spells although there were also too many unforced errors for Bedford;s liking. The students were quickly back on level terms from a set piece with their captain sliding a disguised effort past Sargeant. Bedford looked to respond and start to take the game to their opponents with MOTM Costin creating openings for Steph Holyoak, Claire Higginson and Jones but Bedford couldn’t capitalise whilst from penalty corners, Cambridge defended resolutely. At the other end, a student’s set piece was very close to connecting with a deflector at the back post but generally Bedford defended strongly with Beth Noble and Jenna Maclaren making some great interventions and captain Jackson and the experienced SJ Darrington marshalling well. Holland hit a snapshot and Sargeant had to be sharp to deny the uni from point blank range but ultimately the draw was a fair result. Bedford now have a 1 point lead but two games in hand over second placed Ipswich who they face next week away in a big match at Tuddenham Road.