News
REPORT | Dominant Blues Women secure first victory
Bedford Blues Women made a barnstorming return to NC2 Midlands (Central) league action by securing their first victory of the campaign with a convincing 57-0 victory over Biggleswade.
You can never really use perfect as a superlative, but this was as good as, with nine tries in total amid a stunning display in which they looked like scoring with every opportunity and never looking like conceding with Biggleswade barely out of their own half amid a constant Blues onslaught.
Down on the canvas two weeks ago after a frustrating result against Peterborough, the team have got themselves back up with huge intent – bouncing back better than anyone could have imagined to rip apart their opponents and score at will.
It is a huge testament to how well the squad have trained in recent weeks; working hard on their learnings, putting things right and today, getting the result they deserved in a real show of character, desire and unity.
Put simply: the first half was a case of Biggleswade kicking off, Bedford working their way through the phases and scoring the try. Repeat that eight times – with five conversions thrown in from Lucy Middleton for good measure – and that was the story of the opening 40 minutes.
They were superb, showing real camaraderie and doing the basics really well to keep ball in hand.
Tabitha Everett scored a majestic four tries, while there were further scores from captain Emily Wallbank, Alivia Usher-Harris, Martina Sharp and Middleton to make it 50-0 at half-time.
Huge respect to Biggleswade for never giving in and continuing to fight the good fight throughout the contest. The side – which has undergone a huge rebuild ahead of this season – made much more of a contest of it in the second half with Blues having to dig deep to continue their momentum.
A more stop start half of action allowed more scrum and lineout work – which was absent in a free-flowing opening 40 minutes – meaning Blues could put all their skill on show in-front of a crowd around the 200 mark.
Blues were again camped in the opposition territory but couldn’t break the resistance down as much after the break, adding a ninth try late on as Sharp got her second of the afternoon.
All in all, a stunning performance that will see the side carry huge momentum into Royston next weekend, and then Welwyn in the Junior Plate the week after looking for more inspiring results.
Bedford Blues Women Starting XV:
15. Alyce Trude, 14. Tabitha Everett, 13. Emily Wallbank (C), 12. Martina Sharp, 11. Amy Winter, 10. Lucy Middleton (vc), 9. Esme Fish; 1. Hannah Donovan, 2. Alivia Usher-Harris, 3. Emily McBarron, 4. Kelly Hodgson, 5. Heidi Lawson, 6. Bex Young, 7. Megan Solomon, 8. Emma Hunter
Bedford Blues Women Replacements:
Stephanie-Sarah McPhillips, Angie Scapini, Abi Wilkin
*Matchday Photography provided by Dan Fennell - FennellTakesFotos*
