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REPORT | Eight try Bedford into Quarter Finals
Bedford Blues safely secured their passage through the Quarter Finals of the Championship Cup with a convincing eight-try 52-19 victory over Nottingham at Goldington Road (Blues win 90-33 on aggregate).
It was a vintage display from Mike Rayer’s side who secured their first home triumph of the calendar year and with it, a spot in the last-eight of the competition as the quest for silverware continues with a two-legged contest with Cornish Pirates in the coming weeks.
An away date is still TBC but what we do know is Ladies Day celebrations have been secured at Goldington Road on Saturday 7th May (KO 3pm). Full ticket details will be announced tomorrow but this fixture will again be included in all Season Ticket packages and hospitality can already be booked here.
To secure their spot in the last-eight, Blues again ran rampant to make it a clean sweep of four victories over Nottingham, but this was by far and above the best team performance of the lot.
It took Blues just two minutes to cross the whitewash for the first time as Dean Adamson scored his ninth try against Nottingham this season and his 101st overall for the club.
Quick, free flowing rugby was the order of the day as Blues ripped their way the Nottingham defence at will and Ethan Grayson – on his return to the side following England U20 duty – dotted down after eight minutes. Louis Grimoldby was quality all afternoon, kicking five of six conversion attempts.
Nottingham halved the deficit with their first attack through Harry Graham but it wasn’t long before Blues were back to their effervescent best with a mad three-try flurry in the middle section of the half to well and truly the kill the contest off on aggregate.
James Fish went over off a driving maul, Matt Worley was sent clear after more quick hands then Oisin Heffernan got his inaugural Blues try when making a neat line.
Nottingham played some good stuff at times but have probably fallen foul to not being able to prolong that over 80 minutes against Bedford and scored their second of the afternoon just before the break through scrum half, Michael Stronge.
Blues weren’t done there for the first half and managed to get one more to make it 40-12 at the break. Rayer’s side were simply sensational in every set piece area, none more so than the scrum and they again got a penalty try to conclude the first 40 minutes.
Both sides rang the changes after the break and that stifled momentum somewhat but there were still moments of brilliance to be had from both sides.
Nottingham got on the board for the second half first, through Elliot Creed, which completed their scoring for the second half.
That left Blues to have the final say, crossing through Oli Stedman and Jack Hughes to bring up the 50+ point mark for the third time this campaign and first at Goldington Road.
Not much reward getting the mighty Pirates over the next two weekends but Blues will fancy their chances on the back of this performance as they look to exact revenge on the Cornishmen for the two defeats handed out in the regular season.
Make sure to pack out Goldington Road on Saturday 7th May for Ladies Day. Buy tickets now.
*Matchday photography supplied by Bedford Camera Club*
Teams
BEDFORD BLUES
15. Matt Worley, 14. Patrick Tapley, 13. Ethan Grayson, 12. Will Maisey (C) (62'), 11. Dean Adamson (59'), 10. Louis Grimoldby (40') (62'), 9. Alex Day (40'); 1. Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi, 2. James Fish (46'), 3. Oisin Heffernan (46'), 4. Robin Williams (40') (62'), 5. Alex Woolford (62'), 6. Luke Frost, 7. Bailey Ransom (76'), 8. Oli Stedman (62') (76')
Replacements
16. Will Biggs (46'), 17. Joey Conway (46'), 18. Corrie Barrett (46'), 19. Jordan Onojaife (40'), 20. Jack Hughes (62'), 21. Connor Tupai (40'), 22. Andre Robson (59'), 23. George Hendy (40')
NOTTINGHAM
15. Jack Stapley, 14. David Williams, 13. Charlie Thacker, 12. Morgan Bunting (70'), 11. Harry Graham, 10. Sam Hollingsworth (26') (70'), 9. Michael Stronge (62'); 1. Aniseko Sio (49'), 2. Jake Farnworth (62'), 3. Dan Richardson (49'), 4. Callum Allen, 5. Scott Hall (68'), 6. Jacob Wright, 7. Nathan Tweedy (54'), 8. George Cox
Replacements:
16. Storm Hanekom (62'), 17. Toby Williams (49'), 18. Liam Bishop (49'), 19. Jack Ramshaw (54'), 20. James Cherry (68'), 21. Josh Goodwin (62'), 22. Elliott Creed (26'), 23. James Peachey
REFEREE
Alex Thomas
ATTENDANCE
2,403
