A DISAPPOINTING performance by Hoppers saw them lose to fellow strugglers Bedford.

Indiscipline (two yellow cards) and injury didn't help, but after trailing by only 7-19 at the break better use of the wind advantage and less disjointed play could have got a result.

The Hoppers' backs all showed attacking running, until, with Tuihalamaka in the sin bin, Wells opened the scoring for Bedford.

After only a few minutes back at full strength, Morton was yellow carded and from the resulting penalty, Matthews was driven over for an unconverted try. Hoppers fought back, Monaghan and Viney linking well to set up a position from which hooker Waddell dived over, Tuihalamaka converting. Things were looking brighter but deep into injury time, Hoppers let Wells in for a soft try, converted by Tapper.

A penalty increased the home lead and Hoppers squandered a gilt-edged try opportunity, following a break by Tuihalamaka. But they used the wind to win a penalty line-out from which Dickinson was driven over. A penalty brought the score to 15-22 with 15 minutes left.

But, having already lost prop Clark before half time, Chadwick had to leave the field forcing in a major shuffle of the pack, with Jebb moving to make-shift prop.

When Hoppers failed to clear their lines, another forward drive led to a home try. Tapper converted and on full time took advantage of Hoppers' disarray by running in a try himself which he converted.

Once again, some good individual performances by Hoppers were undermined by a lack of cohesion, injuries and poor tactical play.

Bedford Athletic 36 Preston Grasshoppers 15