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REPORT | Blues stunned in cup opener

Posted: 4th November 2022

There were fireworks aplenty at Goldington Road for the annual display but Bedford Blues failed to sparkle on their trip to the capital as they crashed to a 26-17 defeat away at London Scottish.

The club's quest for a first trophy since 2005 got off to the worst possible start as Bryan Redpath's side secured their first victory of the campaign, and left Bedford needing some help if they are to qualify from Group B of the Championship Cup.

Sport is the world's longest rollercoaster but this felt like something from the Big Dipper as Blues were shellshocked by their hosts to suffer a second defeat at The Richmond Athletic Ground in just six days' after the league defeat to Richmond.

This isn't rip it up and start again territory - victories like those away at Cornish Pirates prove Bedford can still mix it with anyone in this league - but this was a monumental bump in the road.

In truth, Blues didn't get too many shots off and to only come away with three points from an opening passage of 15 minutes in which Mike Rayer's side were camped in the Scottish 22m, highlighted a blunt attack.

Scottish didn't actually make that many visits into the Bedford 22m, but they were clinical when they did get their moments to lead 21-3 at the break. Tries from Will Trenholm - who scored a hat-trick in this fixture back in September - plus Noah Ferdinand and Dan Nutton had them in control.

In response, Blues had a Louis Grimoldby penalty at least making a dent on the scoreboard.

The second half wasn't that much better. The introductions of Michael Le Bourgeois and Ethan Grayson at least gave them some impetus on proceedings and you wonder if things would have been different had they played the full 80 minutes - Grayson in particular smashing through the gainline and actually looking threatening.

A breakaway try from Jake Garside reduced the deficit and should have made it an interesting final 20 minutes, but Blues were never far from a mistake or ill-discipline and they allowed Scottish to giftwrap their victory.

Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane is set to be afforded the Freedom of London City but it felt like Sam Riley had already been given that accolade as no-one got within 10m of him as the Scottish hooker peeled from a driving maul and had all the time in the world to get into the corner.

A late Pat Tapley score made the scoreline a bit better but it wasn't enough to get a point on the night.

Teams

BEDFORD BLUES

15. George Hendy, 14. Pat Tapley, 13. Jamie Elliott (C), 12. Joel Matavesi, 11. Sean French, 10. Louis Grimoldby, 9. Jake Garside; 1. Lewis Holsey, 2. James Fish, 3. Alfie Petch, 4. Tom Lockett, 5. Alex Woolford, 6. Luke Frost, 7. Charles Rylands, 8. Tui Uru

Replacements

16. Jack Hughes, 17. Monty Royston, 18. Corrie Barrett, 19. Jordan Onojaife, 20. Geordie Irvine, 21. Alex Day, 22. Michael Le Bourgeois, 23. Ethan Grayson

LONDON SCOTTISH

15. Cam Anderson, 14. Noah Ferdinand, 13. Oscar Beard, 12. Theo Manihera, 11. Luke Mehson, 10. Harry Sheppard (C), 9. Dan Nutton; 1. Maurice Nwakor, 2. Sam Riley, 3. Will Hobson, 4. Angus Southon, 5. Matas Jurevicius, 6. Will Trenholm, 7. Jack Ingall, 8. Brian Tuilagi