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2021-22 | The Championship Campaign in Numbers
Now on the right side of the COVID-19 pandemic, Championship Rugby returned fully this campaign with more titanic home-and-away tussles and the usual exciting attacking rugby which is renowned here at Goldington Road.
It seems strange to think that the last full Championship campaign came back in 2018/19 but after a truncated season in the early parts of 2021, normality has started to return to the second tier with a packed schedule and 20 league fixtures to contest.
There were memorable moments throughout including the thrilling sell-out Boxing Day win over Jersey Reds, a heroic first victory away at Ealing Trailfinders since 2015 and the nail-biting success over Doncaster Knights under the Goldington Road lights to name but a few.
As we prepare to begin the end-of-season Championship Cup competition in April, read some of the Bedford statistics you may have missed during the league campaign…
Club Statistics
Throughout the 2021/22 Championship campaign, a total of 20 competitive Bedford Blues matches were played. Mike Rayer’s side won on nine occasions, while suffering 11 defeats. Further highlights included three thumping away victories, including on the final day of the campaign against London Scottish (62-21).
Across the campaign, Bedford Blues scored a grand total of 77 tries, third only to Ealing Trailfinders and Jersey Reds. Included within that are 11 Try of the Week wins – more than all the other Championship teams combined – as Blues again scored more tries for the ages when showcasing edge of your seat action.
A total of 43 players made one or more competitive appearance for Bedford Blues throughout their Championship exploits, including 18 debutants. There were four former Junior Blues involved – all born in Bedford – most notably at home to Richmond (October 23rd) when captain Rich Lane, Tom Litchfield, Jamie Elliott and Dean Adamson all started a game together for the inaugural time.
For the first time in the Rayer era, Blues performed better on the road compared to at Goldington Road with five away victories and four home triumphs. Of the 536 points scored in total by the team, 320 were scored away; the third highest in the Championship behind Ealing and Jersey.
Displaying the free-flowing, attacking hallmarks of a Rayer side again in 2021/22; Blues secured a try bonus point in 10 fixtures, again the third best in the division.
Most Appearances
20 – The duo of Joe Atkinson and Jamie Elliott were the only players to feature in every league fixture.
19 – Joey Conway, Alex Day, Luke Frost, Jack Hughes, Tui Uru
18 – Rich Lane, Matt Worley and Oli Stedman
17 – Louis Grimoldby and Bailey Ransom
Most Minutes on the Field
A total of eight Blues players achieved 1,000+ minutes in this year’s Championship. The maximum available is 1,600.
Rich Lane – 1,413; Jamie Elliott – 1,364; Luke Frost – 1,352; Joe Atkinson – 1,248; Dean Adamson – 1,172; Will Maisey – 1,109; Matt Worley – 1,108; Tui Uru – 1,101
Tries
16 – Dean Adamson
9 – Matt Worley
8 – Pat Tapley
6 – Jack Hughes
5 – Jamie Elliott
3 – Joey Conway, Rich Lane, Oli Stedman, Connor Tupai, Tui Uru
2 – Reuben Bird-Tulloch, Ethan Grayson, Reece Marshall, Ollie Newman, Josh Pieterse
1 – Alex Day, Jake Garside, Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi, Emmanuel Iyogun, James Little, Will Maisey, Jordan Onojaife, Alex Woolford
Top Points Scorers
117 – Will Maisey tops the charts for Blues in 2021/22 and also ticked over 1,000 overall career points during the thrilling Boxing Day victory.
80 – Dean Adamson
45 – Matt Worley
40 – Pat Tapley
39 – Louis Grimoldby
Notable Appearance Milestones
500 – Director of Rugby, Mike Rayer celebrated his milestone achievement on the final day of the campaign in victory over London Scottish. From his first game in September 2005 v Otley to March 2022; there have been many magic moments including the two snow games, a first away victory at Bristol in 2010 and the 53-52 victory over Coventry three years ago.
125 – Local lad and former Junior Blues Academy graduate Dean Adamson made his 125th appearance during the defeat at home to Hartpury University. He is due to hit another very important milestone soon and is just two tries away from joining the century club for tries.
50 – Matt Worley and Joe Atkinson both hit 50 appearances recently; Worley’s milestone came in the home defeat to Coventry then Atkinson followed in the next game away at London Scottish. Between the pair, they have contributed 23 tries for the club.
