Academy News

On a freezing cold day in Oxford, the Blues Academy beat Oxford University Whippets by 25pts – 12 at Iffley Road.

Bedford’s opening score was a simple one, well executed; a scrum, taken against the head, a drive up the middle, two quick rucks and the ball moved quickly to the left for winger Ross Taylor to score.  With the wind against them the Blues scored two penalties to make the half time score 11pts – 0.

The Blues Academy travel to play the Oxford University Whippets side on Saturday, making ten changes (two of them positional) to the starting line that beat the Irish Exiles last weekend.

In the pack, Charley Robinson starts at prop and George Harris at hooker.  Charley Harvey and Kyron Houston start at second row, and Rahat Choudhury and Tom Tucker start in the back row.  In the back line Dylan Leney starts at scrum half, and Tom Jennings on the wing.  Paul Aguele moves to centre and Liam Shileds moves to full back.  The side will be captained by back row Rahat Choudhury.

The Blues Academy welcomed the Irish Exiles to Goldington Road on Sunday, and after an error strewn half were drawing 5 pts apiece, before scoring two tries in the second half to win by 15pts - 5.

The Exiles had the majority of the territory early in the game and it was the Exiles who scored first after 20 minutes.  Bedford won a lineout in their own 22 but tried to ship the ball flat across their back line only to concede a scrum.  The pack won the ball against the head but the Blues then gave it away again, and with the Bedford defence getting too narrow the Exiles worked an overlap on the right for full back Liam McGloughlin to score in the corner. 

The Blues Academy welcome the Irish Exiles to Goldington Road on Sunday, KO 2.00 pm.  In view of the events in Paris there will be a One Minute Silence before the game.

With a 20pts – 3 win over the RAF U23 XV, away at RAF Halton, to add to their win over the Royal Navy U23 XV on Wednesday, and their loss to Wasps last Friday, the Blues Academy completed a tough three games in nine days.  The RAF are in the final stages of preparation for the Inter-Services competition which takes place this month.  Bedford made 8 changes (one of them positional) to the starting line that played the Navy on Wednesday.  The game was played in strong winds and driving rain, making the task versus an older and physical side even tougher.  The Blues took a lead at half time of 7pts – 0 before ending as winners by 20pts – 3.

After a close win by 9pts – 0 against the Navy U23 XV on Wednesday, the Blues Academy take on the RAF U23 XV on Saturday.

The Blues make 8 changes (one of them positional) to the starting line that played the Navy on Wednesday.  In the pack, Leon Patel-Champion and Henry Peck start at prop, Aubrey Grimes starts at hooker, Jacob Moody returns at second row and Callum Strachan at flanker.  In the back line Dylan Leney starts at scrum half and Ben Phillips at fly half with Harry Hutchins moving to centre.  The side will be captained by No. 8 Rahat Choudhury.
 

The Blues Academy beat the Royal Navy U23 XV by 9 pts – 0 at a very wet Goldington Road.

Bedford dominated the first 20 minutes but failed to score.  A combination of poor ball retention, poor decision making and good Navy defence kept the score sheet clean.  The Navy weathered the storm and pushed into the Blues half, and had a couple of penalty chances to score but missed narrowly. leaving the score 0-0 at half time.

The second half was more even territorially but it was the Blues who managed to score with two penalties from full back Liam Shields and one from winger Scott Lyle, to give them a 9pts – 0 win.
 

The Blues Academy welcome the Royal Navy U23 XV to Goldington Road on Wednesday night – KO 7.30 pm.

With a list of injuries and availability issues the Blues make 11 changes (two of them positional) to the starting line that played Wasps last week. 

The Blues Academy lost to the RFU funded Wasps Academy by 34pts – 17 at Maidenhead on Friday night.  After gifting Wasps three tries in the first half to go down 19pts – 3 at half time, Bedford improved their performance to score a couple of good tries in the second half but Wasps scored a good try in the opening and closing minutes of the half to end as deserved winners by 34pts – 17.

The Blues Academy U19 XV travel to Maidenhead Rugby Club on Friday night to take on Wasps Academy U18 XV (Kick Off 7.45 pm).

Bedford make six changes to their starting lineup (one positional) with hooker George Harris, prop Henry Peck, centre Harry Hutchins, and full back Max Titchener returning with Liam Shields moving to centre.  No. 8 Harry Peterkin (Oaklands College) makes his debut. 

Hoping to make their debuts off the bench are St Columba's College hooker Tom Kelly and Wymondham winger Charlie Blower. The side will be captained by prop Charley Robinson.