LONDON Irish made it three Championship Cup wins from three with a hard-fought 21-13 victory at home to Bedford Blues on Sunday, writes Richard Ashton.

Exiles made a nightmare start as the visitors went in front in just the second minute, wing Pat Tapley finishing off a slick backs move to go over in the corner.

Lewis Robling was unable to add the conversion, and Declan Kidney's men hit back just three minutes later.

The rolling maul has proved an effective weapon for Exiles all season, and it proved to be the case again as prop Ollie Hoskins crashed over at the back of another powerful surge from close range.

Stephen Myler knocked over the extras to put his side 7-5 up, and the hosts thought they had moved further in front on 14 minutes when Barney Maddison crashed over, only for referee Matt Turvey to rule the ball had been held up.

Exiles did extend their advantage at the start of the second quarter, though, scrum-half Scott Steele spotting a gap from close range to snipe through the Bedford defence before Myler converted.

Ollie Hassell-Collins came close to adding to the hosts' tally when his brilliant 35-metre break was halted just short of the line, but Robling cut the gap before the break by landing a penalty.