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Powergen Shield Victory – 15 years on
Today marks the 15-year anniversary since Bedford Blues triumphed in the 2005 Powergen Challenge Shield Final at Twickenham.
On Saturday 16th April 2005, Blues defeated fellow National Division One side Plymouth Albion 14-13 thanks to a dramatic late penalty from the boot of Leigh Hinton.
The success completed the collection of trophies for the town of Bedford after Blues had also won the RFU Club Competition in 1975, Bedford Queens won the Junior Vase equivalent in 1995 and Bedford Athletic won the Intermediate in 1998.
Bedford were behind for 74 minutes of the contest, but fortunes favoured the brave and the familiar steely grit and determination helped Blues over the line in front of an estimated 5,000 travelling supporters.
Plymouth started quickest and opened the scoring in just the second minute through back row Alfie To’oala’s try, converted by former Blues full-back and captain James Pritchard.
Albion extended their lead into double figures midway into the first half through a penalty after Blues were adjudged to have committed an infringement at the lineout.
Undeterred, Blues stuck to their game plan and sought about getting themselves back into the game. They played the more expansive and free flowing rugby, but had to settle for two penalties from Hinton, either side of a drop goal down the other end from Matt Carrington, making it 13-6 to Plymouth at half-time.
Bedford made a series of unforced errors as the forwards looked to exert pressure; knock-ons being a particular problem. All those issues were brushed aside, however, on 64 minutes when Blues made it over the try line following a sweeping counterattack.
From a lineout, outside half and current Exeter Chiefs Head Coach, Ali Hepher released a long pass to former Scottish international Craig Moir to create the first clean line break of Bedford’s attack. Full-back Mark Harris was on hand to seal the vital try, being brought down just short before reaching to dot down over the whitewash.
Unusually, Hinton missed with the conversion, which would have levelled the scores, but he kept his composure when slotting a 25-yard penalty from the right shortly after.
Nothing’s ever done easy in Bedford so there was plenty of heart in mouth time before Blues could be declared champions. Plymouth kept ball in hand well into the red, but the defence held firm to secure the club’s second Twickenham triumph, 30 years after the first.
The Powergen Shield was on its way to Goldington Road.
Bedford Blues team that day: Mark Harris, Craig Moir, Leigh Hinton, Matt Allen (C), Mike Staten (Spencer Brown), Ali Hepher, Ian Vass; Matt Volland (Soane Tonga’uiha), Chris Johnson, John Brooks, Jon Phillips, Arthur Brenton, Nic Strauss, Ben Lewitt, Junior Paramore (Shaun Brady)
Saturday 16th April 2005
Twickenham Stadium
Supporters View:
Chairman of the Followers Association, Martin Clark said: “Most Blues supporters would probably agree that the Plymouth Albion victory was their favourite Bedford match. It was a brilliant day, we took most of Bedford down with us, and a fantastic party afterwards.”
Committee Member of the Followers Association, Jackie Markham commented: “I was stewarding at Twickenham at the time which meant I organised our fans to be on the East Stand, therefore when our boys came out of the tunnel all they saw was a sea of blue.”
