LONDON Irish maintained their 100% start to the Greene King IPA Championship season with a hard-fought 30-23 victory at Bedford Blues.

Those who expected Exiles to saunter to an easy victory at Goldington Road were in for a shock as Bedford put up a brave fight before slipping to narrow defeat.

But Nick Kennedy's unbeaten Irish just had the edge on the day as they clinched their third straight league victory and another bonus point triumph.

In an end-to-end encounter, Bedford struck the first blow on 10 minutes with a try from Pat Tapley who intercepted a pass before darting 80 metres for an unconverted touchdown.

Irish's Tommy Bell had already traded penalties with Blues' Myles Dorrian at that stage, and another successful effort by Dorrian from the touchline extended the home side's lead to 11-3.

The Bedford fly-half narrowly missed from similar range in the 24th minute before the home side lost Josh Buggea to the sin-bin for infringing at the ruck.

Ruthless Exiles were quick to make their numerical advantage count as Ben Franks and Johnny Williams grabbed a try a piece to put their side 15-11 in front going into the break.

Franks crossed the whitewash on 36 minutes as Bedford struggled to cope with Exiles' brute strength at the maul.

Then Williams notched his first try of the season on the stroke of half time when the England U20 international latched onto Ben Ransom's chip through.

It got even better for Irish when Topy Ojo grabbed their third try early in the second half to put his side 22-11 up.

Ransom, duel registered with Bedford during his spell with Saracens, burst through the home side's defence and, though he was brought down just short of the try line, the ball was switched to Ojo who scored out wide.

Bell's superb conversion from the touchline gave Exiles some much-needed breathing space to quell a Bedford fightback after David Paice had been yellow carded for an altercation at the ruck.

The hosts immediately reduced the deficit when hooker George Edgson went over on 50 minutes.

Then four minutes later Tapley grabbed his second try of the afternoon as Blues got their noses back in front to lead 23-22.

However, Bell's penalty soon after nudged Irish back ahead then Max Northcote-Green pounced on a loose ball to sprint 30 metres for the bonus-point try, fending off a series of tackles in the process.

That was enough to secure another victory for Kennedy's men who host Ealing Trailfinders at Madejski Stadium this Sunday (3pm ko).

London Irish: Marshall, Ojo, Fowlie (Tikoirotuma 65), Williams, Ransom, Bell, Allinson (Steele 56), Court (Hobbs-Awoyemi 62), Paice (c) (Ellis 75), Franks (Palframan 75), Robson, Sexton (Lloyd 62), Trayfoot, Gilsenan (Northcote-Green 70), Treviranus.

Attendance: 2,585.

Referee: Greg MacDonald.