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Blues Rewind | Bedford v Newcastle (1997)
A game described by Mike Rayer as one of his best days in rugby, there is no better way to start looking back at some notable Bedford Blues matches than by reminiscing about the 34-28 victory over a star-studded Newcastle Falcons in 1997.
Last month we took a walk down memory lane by looking at three notable anniversaries in Blues’ illustrious history; now throughout May we will be bringing the Blues Family match highlights, full game replays and exclusive interviews with some of the players involved in several of the most important matches of recent times.
Up first is a review of the Newcastle game, to be released in full at 12pm this Saturday over on our Vimeo channel, as Rayer, Ben Whetstone and Paul Turner all join Sam Roberts over a Zoom call to discuss the triumphant day at a packed out Goldington Road.
Current Director of Rugby, Rayer said: “You take stock during this time and there were some unbelievable memories. This is right up there as one of my best memories in rugby. It was an unbelievable day and it’ll live long in the memory.”
The game itself took place at Goldington Road on Saturday 5th April 1997 with both sides challenging for the two automatic promotion spots into the Premiership or at the very least a play-off position for the sides finishing in third or fourth.
Both sides were on a good run of form; Newcastle in particular having only lost once all season in the league, in match day two against eventual title winners Richmond.
Bedford had lost four times before this encounter, including a heavy defeat in the reverse fixture, meaning they were out to right the wrongs in-front of an estimated 7,500 at Goldington Road.
On the team sheet, Newcastle had 11 internationals in the starting side; including the league’s eventual two top try scorers, right winger John Bentley (23) and scrum-half Gary Armstrong (21), alongside the league’s second top goal kicker in outside half Rob Andrew (297).
Of that Falcons team, five of them went a few months later on the successful 1997 British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa, and they played a big impact too with Bentley again top try scorer for the tour (7) and full-back Tim Stimpson top points scorer for the tour (111).
And this wasn’t too dissimilar a team to the one which then won the Premiership title the very next season, winning 19 of their 22 fixtures in the top-tier and beating Saracens to top spot by just one point.
But fortune favoured the brave on this particular afternoon and after Rayer’s iconic try saving tackle early on, Bedford took command to build a 17-3 half-time lead through tries from right wing Paul Hewitt and scrum half Darren Edwards.
That soon became a 29-9 lead when Whetstone and prop Clem Boyd also crossed the try-line but Newcastle weren’t done there and pulled themselves back into the game when Scottish international Alan Tait and current Bristol Bears Director of Rugby Pat Lam both crossed.
Martin Offiah’s late try cued wild celebrations and confirmation that Bedford would win the game; another try for Falcons through prop George Graham did reduce the deficit but it wasn’t enough to stop Blues securing a 34-28 victory.
Whetstone commented: “It really was unbelievable to turn out the sort of victory we did against Newcastle; it was a brilliant day. It was just a fantastic day from start to finish and it’s something I’ll certainly never forget.
Turner added: “After the beating we took at Newcastle earlier in the season, to then play like we did at Goldington Road was a special time with a lot of special people.”
Head over to our Vimeo channel on Saturday at midday to watch the full recording of Rayer, Whetstone and Turner reminiscing about the day. Just search Bedford Blues. We will also publicise the video on all of our social media channels so talk a walk down memory lane with us and enjoy an exclusive insight into a famous Goldington Road afternoon!
