Northampton Demons Rugby League team were crowned as Regional Champions of the RLC East Division for the second year on the bounce but were made to work hard by a spirited Bedford Tigers team.
The game started well for the Demons with Ben Jones scoring a four pointer in the corner thanks to crisp hands from scrum half Smith but Fewster was unable to add the extras. Soon afterwards prop forward Andy Goslett doubled the Demons advantage with a brnstorming run up the centre of the pitch from his own half way line and Feswster made it 10 - 0 with a successful conversion.
The Demons were in the lead but the game in the first 15 minutes was a tight affair as each side knew that defeat meant the end of their respective seasons.
Second row Hartley lit up the proceedings with some trademark hits. The shackles came off both teams as the weather stayed dry and the Tigers number 5 broke a number of Demon tacklers but the home defence held firm.
Next up Rice made a strong break up the line but was unable to hold the ball and the next few minutes saw more big hits. Try scorer Jones followed up Rice with another strong break but the Demons were unable to capitalise upon his efforts.
More free flowing passing from Northampton through the hands of Smith and Fewster led to second rower Ward scoring a try and with Fewster adding the conversion, the score was 14 - 0 to the Demons.
Hartley was a man possessed at this point and the tackles he inflicted upon the Tigers must have hurt their players. The Tigers then inflicted pain upon the Demons for the last part of the first half with a repeat set of 6 tackles drawing their first points of the game. The Demons defence could not cope and the Tigers scored in the corner.
Soon afterwards Rice earned himself 10 minutes in the coolwe for repeated indiscretions at the play the ball.
Hartley's involvement in the game ended shortly. Norths were penalised a number of times on their try line and the pressure told when Bedford scored and converted. Hartley was badly hurt at this point and had to be taken to hospital in an ambulance.
The half time whistle blew and the Demons were now only 6 points in the lead. The team had been sucked into not playing Rugby and they were told that by the coaching team at half time.
The start of the second stanza saw the heavens open on a number of occasions and this certainly had an impact upon the game. Free flowing rugby was out of the window and retaining the ball for 6 tackles was the requirement from the Demons.
It was the turn of the Demons to take advantage of Bedford indiscretions being awarded 2 penalties. Like a true Rugby League team Northampton made the Tigers pay with a try under the sticks from Fewster which he converted. Centre Webber wanted the ball but like a good number 6, Fewster siezed the momment and put the Demons in front by 2 scores.
The referee lost his patience with Bedford at this point and after repeated head high tackles he placed one of their players in the cooler. This made no difference to Bedford as from their 20 meter line scored a try making the score 22 - 16.
The Northampton bench were giving out the orders to the players and were not helped when Davenport was sent off for tripping. The Demons knew they had to dig in deep for the last 25 minutes to retain their title.
Cue the gamebreaker. Norths were awarded a penalty in front of the Tigers line and Fewster had no alternative but to take the 2 points. This killed the game in favour of the Demons. The last 10 minutes were all about keeping the ball, not conceeding penalties and defending their try line as if their lives depended upon it.
