News

REPORT | Stubborn Blues secure another home win

Posted: 22nd October 2022

Bedford Blues’ remarkable start to proceedings at home in the 2022/23 Championship campaign continued as they ground out a hard-fought 28-21 success against Hartpury University.

Blues often struggled at Goldington Road last season – suffering defeat more than they won – but they look a completely different animal this year, buoyed on by the Championship’s largest support.

It was a performance that again proved Mike Rayer’s side can find different ways to win and they certainly had to show a lot of grit and determination in the final 10 minutes to resist a Hartpury side who threw everything they had towards the try line in search of a draw.

In the end, Blues did enough to secure the victory, and with it, make it 15 points form as many available at Goldington Road to start the current campaign.

Speaking honestly at the final whistle, Assistant Coach Jake Sharp said: “To get five points is really pleasing. You could probably tell that we hadn’t played for two weeks so that meant we were patchy in parts. But across the board – against a very good Hartpury team – we’re happy to come away with a win.

“We still want to tidy a bit of our game up. Some of our accuracy in attack, I thought we looked a little bit blunt for the first time in a while. We’ll get opportunities to fix that in the coming weeks.”

Hartpury struck first as they started the contest much the better side; Mitch Eadie came from nowhere on the blindside to bamboozle the Blues defence and have a clear run under the sticks.

Blues were lacklustre but grew into the game the longer it progressed, for the most part stopping Hartpury as they searched for early points; particularly with the visitors going down the slope in the opening 40 minutes.

But as is renowned, Bedford can turn a game on a sixpence and as the cogs started to turn, you knew it was only going to be a matter of time before they got back into their full rhythm.

On 23 minutes, the game swung massively in Blues’ favour, and they took advantage.

Setting of from halfway, it was offload city as Blues kept composed to send Sean French over in the corner for his second try in as many matches. To make things even more positive, Hartpury’s James Williams was sin binned for a high tackle when trying in vain to stop Rayer’s side in full flight.

They led at half-time as well as they played the numbers game when Luke Frost burrowed his way to the line from a tidy pick and go.

Blues were out of the traps with much greater intent in the second half than they were the first and went 21-7 up as French completed his double by offering good support at the driving maul to crash over the line.

Jake Polledri’s score reduced the deficit to set the nerves jangling but then came the contest’s golden moment as Bedford put their case forward for the upcoming Try of the Week competition.

It was divine as Jamie Elliott cut a decent line to split the defence and race into the 22m, timing the offload perfectly and then Tui Uru sent it on its way to set Alex Day in the clear for his fifth score of the campaign.

James Benjamin’s late score made things interesting but the result never really felt in doubt at that point as Blues stuck together as a unit and forced the turn over in the last passage of play.

*Matchday Photography provided by Dan Fennell - fennelltakesfotos.co.uk*

Teams

BEDFORD BLUES

15. Michael Le Bourgeois, 14. Sean French (77'), 13. Ethan Grayson (28'), 12. Joel Matavesi, 11. Dean Adamson, 10. Will Maisey, 9. Alex Day (C); 1. Joey Conway (59'), 2. James Fish, 3. Ehren Painter (66'), 4. Robin Williams, 5. Jordan Onojaife (59'), 6. Luke Frost, 7. Kayde Sylvester (55'), 8. Jac Arthur

Replacements

16. Jack Hughes, 17. Lewis Holsey (59'), 18. Corrie Barrett (66'), 19. Tom Lockett (59'), 20. Tui Uru (55'), 21. Louis Grimoldby, 22. Jamie Elliott (28'), 23. Pat Tapley (77')

HARTPURY UNIVERSITY

15. Tommy Mathews, 14. Brad Denty, 13. Matt McNab, 12. Will Butler, 11. Sam Smith (29'), 10. James Williams, 9. JB Bruzulier (C) (51'); 1. Harry Fry (3'), 2. Ethan Hunt, 3. Sam Rodman (40'), 4. Jack Davies, 5. Dale Lemon, 6. Sam Lewis (66'), 7. Jake Polledri (60'), 8. Mitch Eadie (51')

Replacements:

16. James Benjamin (51'), 17. Michael Summerfield (3'), 18. Tom Sims (40'), 19. Jack Bartlett (51'), 20. Joe Howard (66'), 21. Harry Short (60'), 22. Matt Jones (51'), 23. Jack Lloyd (29')