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REPORT | Blues Women return to winning ways
Bedford Blues Women made a barnstorming return to NC2 Midlands (Central) action with a thumping 52-0 victory over Buckingham Swans Ladies II that saw Darryl Veenendaal and Peter Frost’s side climb to third in the table.
It was the perfect coming together of all that the team have been working on all season, the set-piece – particularly the lineout – was flawless as they executed new plays to clinical effect to blow away their opponents and dominate possession, territory and the scoreboard.
The game also afforded the opportunity to blood in new players to the team and hand starts to others for the first time, and this was about as good as it gets to ensure confidence is running within the squad ahead of a return to the hallowed turf of Goldington Road this coming Sunday.
Lucy Middleton, who deputised as captain, finally received the Player of the Match award that her performances all season have deserved. She was superb in controlling the game, adding a try which started inside her own half, in addition to kicking six conversions.
Tabitha Everett’s purple patch of form shows no signs of subsiding as she dotted down again to go clear as the side’s top try scorer this campaign and more importantly, when considering overall league and cup competition since inception.
There were eight tries in all on a magnificent day at Bedford Athletic RFC, with Catherine Chambers marking her return from injury with five points, while perennial try scorer Alivia Usher-Harris dotted down again, as did lock Kelly Hodgson and versatile backs option, Alyce Trude.
It will be a substantially harder test when they face Milton Keynes on Sunday, who currently sit second, but this was exactly the kind of warm up needed in terms of preparation with a solid block of training still to come before returning to Goldington Road.
Bedford Blues Squad v Buckingham Swans Ladies II:
Bex Young, Kate Barber, Tabitha Everett, Amy Winter, Lucy Middleton (C), Abi Wilkin, Emily McBarron, Steph Sarah-McPhillips, Lauren Mason, Kelly Hodgson, Emry Bond, Alivia Usher-Harris, Laura Woodfield, Emma Hunter, Hannah Donovan, Sophie Riley, Kass Carry, Catherine Chambers, Alyce Trude
*Matchday Photography by Dan Fennell - fennelltakesfotos.co.uk*
