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REPORT | Nine-try Bedford defeat Rotherham
Bedford Blues began pre-season preparations for the 2022/23 campaign with suitable aplomb as they put Rotherham Titans to the sword in a nine-try 61-19 victory.
It was a performance full of endeavour and desire, with learnings also to take from the contest, in what was a perfect pre-season runout in preparation for what we hope will be another exciting Championship campaign for Mike Rayer’s side.
Rotherham posed questions throughout and ensured Blues could demonstrate their defensive solidity; and the visitors will feel aggrieved to have such a gulf on the scoreboard when it wasn’t that large on the field.
Blues started the contest like a train and were 19-0 to the good after just 15 minutes. Jac Arthur marked his arrival to Bedford’s premier sporting club within a minute of the first whistle, while Pat Tapley and Luke Frost also made darts to the line.
The visitors hit back from there and showed why they are expected to be one of the promotion contenders in National Two North next season. They probably deserved more on the scoreboard than the seven points they managed before the break, but constantly found a defensive wall in their way.
Theo Nwosu-Hope did manage to break the resistance to make it 19-7 at HT in what became 40 minutes that highlighted Blues’ effective in attack but in equal measure, solidity in defence.
Blues came back from the changing rooms with further attacking intent and again made a burst for the line inside 60 seconds as replacement scrum-half Jake Garside broke the line and set Joey Conway away.
Rotherham came back instantly and scored through Luckas Sableman-Blue but from then on, Blues reached another gear in both offensive and defensive departments to keep the scoreboard constantly ticking.
It wouldn’t be a Bedford Blues fixture without Dean Adamson crossing the whitewash and he wasn’t going to keep his name off the scoresheet for long. Garside showed ingenuity to take a quick penalty and left Adamson to do the rest in the corner.
Matt Worley marked his return from international duty with Hong Kong by extending his purple patch with a try, completing a lovely little 1-2 with Sean French to run clear from halfway.
Rotherham got their third with ten minutes to play as they continued to battle hard and cause problems.
Blues completed proceedings with three tries in as many minutes. Rayer's side went over from close range when showing persistence in-front of the line; Arthur then got his second of the afternoon before Garside got the try his performance deserved to bring play to a conclusion.
Will Maisey kicked eight out of nine conversions – hitting the post with the other – in a solid display from fly-half.
And Charles Rylands completed the dream fairytale of returning to the club he won the 2009/10 Young Supporter of the Year Award with by securing the Man of the Match award when pulling on the Blues jersey for the first time.
Bedford Blues Starting XV:
15. Sean French, 14. Pat Tapley, 13. Matt Worley, 12. Jamie Elliott, 11. Dean Adamson, 10. Will Maisey, 9. Alex Day; 1. Monty Royston, 2. Jacob Fields, 3. Corrie Barrett, 4. Robin Williams, 5. Jordan Onojaife, 6. Luke Frost, 7. Charles Rylands, 8. Jac Arthur
Bedford Blues Replacements:
Jack Hughes, Joey Conway, Osman Dimen, Alex Woolford, Tui Uru, Jake Garside, Matt Arden, Ryan Apps
Rotherham Titans Starting XV:
15. Jack Taylor, 14. Luckas Sableman-Blue, 13. Lloyd Hayes, 12. Harry Dunne, 11. George Tucker, 10. Corben Ollivent, 9. Kareem Eissa; 1. Charlie Capps, 2. Jack Bergmanas, 3. Gareth Denman, 4. Matt Challinor, 5. Lewis Allan, 6. Marcus Payne, 7. Zak Poole (C), 8. Callum Bustin
Rotherham Titans Replacements:
Louis Inman, Rikki Stout, Alastair Donkor, Danny Rylance, Theo Nwosu-Hope, Sam Veall, Jack Hedley
*Matchday Photography provided by Claire Jones - redhatphoto.co.uk*
