News
Match Report v Jersey Reds
Bedford Blues suffered their first home Championship rugby defeat since Boxing Day 2019 as Jersey Reds took the spoils from Goldington Road in a 25-20 victory for the Islanders.
It was another game where Bedford showed what they’re trying to do with more attacking, free flowing rugby on display and that was shown to great effect with the two tries scored in the first half from Ryan Olowofela and Rich Lane.
But discipline again killed all momentum with Blues getting three yellow cards throughout the game to halt the charge and Jersey used the numbers game to great effect to make sure they secured their first victory of the Championship season.
Jersey started the contest on much the better footing and led by ten points after 24 minutes through an early penalty by Brendan Cope followed by Ciaran Parker’s converted try from a driving maul.
It took Bedford a while to get into the game but then all of a sudden, a flurry of activity in and around the half hour turned the game on its head.
Tommy Mathews slotted home an easy three points before Blues went from one end to the other from the restart. Reuben Bird-Tulloch made the initial burst to split the defence and sprint 40m before the offload was perfect for Olowofela to sprint to the line and score his first Bedford try.
Just three minutes later, Blues were back at it again with more scintillating rugby. This time, Ewan Fenley – on his first Bedford start – went through the hands to see Matt Worley down the wing. His inside ball was again perfect and Rich Lane – on his first game as full captain of the side – dotted down.
The two conversions put Bedford in-front at 17-10 but Jersey hit back virtually immediately through a familiar attack; this time hooker Jack MacFarlane was the front row to benefit from the driving maul and level the scores again.
Cope kicked a penalty with the last passage of play in the first half to send Jersey back to the dressing rooms level and that was pretty much how the scoring stayed until late in the second half.
A slight miscommunication when both Blues tighthead props were sent to the sin bin caused a long pause which affected the flow of proceedings but when the game did resume, Jersey made sure of the points with a try just after the 70-minute mark.
Winger Darren Atkins smashed through a covering tackle to score in the corner to make it 25-17 in favour of the Islanders.
Bedford fought back and deserved their losing bonus point secured from the boot of Will Maisey with the final passage of play. Two week break before another massive game away at Saracens.
*Match photography provided by James Fitchew*
Teams
BEDFORD BLUES
15. Rich Lane, 14. Ryan Olowofela, 13. Tom Litchfield, 12. Reuben Bird-Tulloch, 11. Matt Worley (73'), 10. Tommy Mathews (62'), 9. Ewan Fenley (62'); 1. Joe Wrafter (53'), 2. James Fish (64'), 3. Ed Prowse, 4. Oli Curry (44'), 5. Lewis Bean, 6. Ollie Newman, 7. Joe Atkinson, 8. Tui Uru (53')
Replacements
16. Jacob Fields (64'), 17. Emmanuel Iyogun (53'), 18. Rob Hardwick, 19. Will Carrick Smith (44'), 20. Oli Robinson (53'), 21. James Lennon (62'), 22. Will Maisey (62'), 23. Pat Tapley (73')
JERSEY REDS
15. Brendan Owen, 14. Tom Williams, 13. Scott Van Breda, 12. Jack Roberts, 11. Darren Atkins (79'), 10. Brendan Cope, 9. James Elliott (64'); 1. Dan Richardson, 2. Jack MacFarlane (47'), 3. Ciaran Parker (47'), 4. Zak Farrance (68'), 5. Macauley Cook, 6. Josh Bainbridge, 7. Lewis Wynne (C), 8. Max Argyle (60')
Replacements:
16. George Edgson (47'), 17. Roy Godfrey, 18. Jack Higgins (47'), 19. Rory Bartle (68'), 20. Kyle Hatherell (60'), 21. Cameron Nordli-Kelemeti (64'), 22. Bader Pretorius, 23. Dan Barnes (79')
