Cardiff Demons received their biggest test of the season so far, but still came out well on top, beating Bedford Tigers 56-0, with eight of the 12 tries coming in the second half.

Bryonie King was close to scoring from the first run of the game but was stopped in her tracks. From the next set of passes, Leanna Mayback scored in the corner, still with just 40 seconds gone on the clock. Amberley Ruck’s conversion was short.

Molly Reardon was next on the scoresheet, diving from dummy half for a second unconverted try for Cardiff. The score ticked onto 8-0 after six minutes.

Wellie Clark was close to opening Bedford’s account on 16 minutes, but was stopped centimetres from the line on the final tackle of a set. From their next attack, gifted to them by a dropped ball, Francesca Bunting was pulled into touch.

But just before the first drinks break, a foot in touch gave Cardiff the scrum just ten metres from goal. Following refreshments, King ran through from the scrum. Ruck’s kick went wide.

Demons were excelling in attack and defence, with the latter being tested properly for the first time in a long while. England international Caroline Collie was close for the visitors, but like her team-mate earlier, she was bundled over the side.

Ruck ran down the wing for Cardiff’s fourth try, but again couldn’t add the extras, so they went into half-time 16-0 up.

Cardiff started the second half well, when Chelcey Greasley jinked past the Bedford defence to score. Chelsea Jones took over the kicking, but there were still no extras and the score remained on 20-0.

After forcing a goal-line drop-out, Cardiff scored their fifth. Charlie Mundy made it look easy by gliding past her markers and placing the ball under the posts, making is easy for Jones to convert.

From kick-off, Brittony Price shrugged off the heat and ran over 50 metres to score, with Jones converting well.

Mundy then added her second of the day, this one going unconverted, just before the next water break.

A minute after the restart, King scored her second, before Courtney Greenway went over for a try on her debut. Both went unconverted.

With four minutes remaining, Ruck ran under the posts for Cardiff’s 11th try, with Jones converting to bring up the half century.

And with the final move of the match, Price ran from her own half to place the ball under the black dot, with Jones kicking the final goal.