News
REPORT | Resilient Blues sunk by Milton Keynes
It was a brave and spirited performance by Bedford Blues Women, but they sadly suffered defeat at Goldington Road, falling to a 43-8 defeat against an in-form Milton Keynes side.
Such a proud and confident display, wearing the badge with such distinction, deserved a lot more than they actually received but they were on the unfortunate wrong side of the luck with the bounce of the ball never giving them any benefit as they put pressure on the opposition 22m.
Momentum is huge in sport, particularly rugby. Blues spent the majority of the early exchanges in opposition territory and if any of the bounces worked to beneficial effect from Lucy Middleton’s crossfield kicks, it could have been a completely different story.
There was also a huge decision at 12-3 when Blues were denied a try that was adjudged to have gone forwards on the line. This team don’t surrender leads very often and if they had led at any point, you just never know how the momentum would have changed.
A strong penalty from Middleton ensured they at least took some points from their period of possession and dominance as that made it 7-3 following an early Milton Keynes score by Heidi Smith, converted by Jade Walker.
Milton Keynes have been battering teams this season, and look a strong contender for second place if not pushing for the title, but this was anything but an easy ride for the visitors as Blues made a real fight of it and made them work for everything they put together.
Solid defence such as was on display at Goldington Road normally reaps rewards, but you have to give massive credit to Milton Keynes who put multiple phases together on numerous occasions and never dropped the ball, which would normally happen after phases reach double figures.
Additional tries in the first half from Naellys Amany, Maddie Couchman and Zoe Church had the visitors 26-3 to the good at the break.
Never a side to give in, Blues again made it difficult in the second half and scored a really nice try through Alivia Usher-Harris as the high point from the second 40. It came off the back of a really smart lineout move and saw the front row forward charge to the line in the corner to dot down underneath the scoreboard.
The work at the set piece again highlighted why so much time and effort is put into practise on the training field; they had Milton Keynes going back at a rate of knots and were unlucky not to be given any penalties for their work - with the visitors smartly working out they needed to get the ball out of there, and fast.
The post-match comments from the Milton Keynes coaches prove just how much of a fight this was for them to implement their own game and showed the further progression this team is making.
It seems a long time ago that the Bedford Blues Women senior team was initially formed but with COVID lockdowns and everything else going on in the world, you have to remember that this was just the 10th competitive fixture that the side have contested and when you compare that to a well-established side of many years, there’s always going to be bumps in the road as the journey for the side continues.
A second for Church, plus other tries from Toni Walker and Kerri Fitzgerald took the scoreboard away from the hosts but it can’t be re-iterated just how spirited this performance was.
They go again away at Rugby Lionesses on Sunday 4th December before returning to Goldington Road in the final fixture of 2022 to take on St Neots in an historic first ever Saturday fixture on 17th December. Full details on this game will be revealed next week as we look to get 1,000 spectators through the turnstiles.
Bedford Blues Women Starting XV:
15. Amy Winter, 14. Gina Anstee, 13. Alicia Eastment, 12. Jemma Langton, 11. Tabitha Everett, 10. Lucy Middleton (C), 9. Esme Fish; 1. Emily McBarron, 2. Alivia Usher-Harris, 3. Hannah Donovan, 4. Kelly Hodgson, 5. Catherine Chambers, 6. Bex Young, 7. Laura Woodfield, 8. Emma Hunter
Bedford Blues Women Replacements:
Stephanie-Sarah McPhillips, Lauren Mason, Kass Carry, Emry Bond, Megan Solomon, Heidi Lawson, Natalie Daly
Milton Keynes Women Starting XV:
15. Jade Walker, 14. Naellys Amany, 13. Alex Sutton, 12. Maddie Couchman, 11. Zoe Church, 10. Beth Duckworth, 9. Emma Lucey; 1. Toni Ranger, 2. Faye Easton, 3. Shannon Swift, 4. Lucy Keylock, 5. Tammy Churchward, 6. Rachel Denney, 7. Heidi Smith, 8. Abi McNally
Milton Keynes Women Replacements:
Kerri Fitzgerald, Kirsty Eeles, Hannah Best-Prescott, Ciara Robinson, Lily Maxey
*Matchday Photography by Roy Long*
