TEAM NEWS | Seven changes for derby day with Ampthill

Posted: 14th January 2022
 

Mike Rayer has named his squad as Bedford Blues look to start 2022 in perfect fashion when neighbours Ampthill head to Goldington Road on Saturday (KO 3pm).

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Following the frustrating postponement of the Doncaster Knights fixture on New Year’s Day, Blues return to action for the first time since securing a thrilling victory over Jersey Reds in-front of a sell-out Goldington Road on Boxing Day.

Blues will be looking for a fourth successive home victory in what is the 11th instalment of the Battle of Bedfordshire and will be looking to put pressure on the Championship’s top four in the table.

Rayer makes seven changes for tomorrow’s game including a first start of the season for Karl Garside in the tighthead jersey while there is also an alteration on the other side of the front row as Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi returns from injury sustained in the warm-up of the London Scottish tie last month.

There is a completely new back row as JJ Tonks makes his first appearance for the club since May, and he will pack down alongside Ollie Newman – who starts for the first time this season – and Oli Stedman.

The final two changes come in the backs division as the rotation of the scrum half jersey continues with Connor Tupai named from the off this time around.

The final change sees Louis Grimoldby start at inside centre to form the exciting 10-12 partnership with the Championship’s leading marksman, Will Maisey, who heads into the game just two points clear of his opposite number, Ampthill’s fly-half Russell Bennett.

A couple of weeks without a Championship fixture has allayed most of the injury concerns within the camp with only hooker Will Biggs currently on the side-lines.

Bedford Blues Starting XV:

15. Rich Lane (C), 14. Matt Worley, 13. Jamie Elliott, 12. Louis Grimoldby, 11. Dean Adamson, 10. Will Maisey, 9. Connor Tupai; 1. Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi, 2. Jack Hughes, 3. Karl Garside, 4. Jordan Onojaife, 5. Luke Frost, 6. JJ Tonks, 7. Ollie Newman, 8. Oli Stedman

Bedford Blues Replacements:

16. Jacob Fields, 17. Joey Conway, 18. Corrie Barrett, 19. Robin Williams, 20. Bailey Ransom, 21. Joe Atkinson, 22. Alex Day, 23. Pat Tapley