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TEAM NEWS | Nine changes as cup campaign begins
Mike Rayer has named his squad as Bedford Blues turn their attentions to the Championship Cup for the next three weekends as the Group Phase begins with a trip to London Scottish tomorrow (KO 7:45pm).
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Tomorrow’s game is the second time Blues have headed to The Richmond Athletic Ground in just six days following the Championship clash with Richmond last Saturday, and after being backed by a large number of traveling supporters that afternoon, will descend on the capital in great numbers again.
Blues and Scottish played out an 85-point thriller at Goldington Road earlier this campaign and will be looking to put on another entertaining spectacle in what is the 82nd meeting between two sides who first did battle 90 years ago.
For the clash in South-West London, Rayer has elected to shuffle his pack quite significantly with nine changes in total, allowing players who have featured frequently so far this season to have a well-deserved break from competitive action.
Dean Adamson, who has played every minute of the campaign scoring seven tries; Will Maisey, the Championship’s top points scorer with 73 and Robin Williams, who has started the last six games, and Jac Arthur, who has played virtually every minute on offer, are all absent from the Matchday 23.
That gives opportunities to more members of the squad with five players handed their first starts of the campaign under the Friday Night Lights.
There are five changes to the forwards pack as Blues welcome tighthead Alfie Petch into the #BluesFamily from Northampton Saints for his club debut, while recent acquisition Lewis Holsey is handed the starting jersey on the other side of the scrum.
Alex Woolford makes a welcome return from the neck injury suffered two months ago and will share the engine room with Tom Lockett, who starts for the first time in a Blues jersey.
The inclusion of Charles Rylands at openside flanker is the only change to the back row.
In the backs division, there are four changes as Louis Grimoldby and Jamie Elliott – who captains the side – are given their first starts of the campaign. Elsewhere, Jake Garside is handed the starting scrum half jersey and George Hendy returns after a strong showing in the Premiership for Saints last weekend.
Matt Worley is unavailable for selection having been called up to Hong Kong for their final repechage fixtures over the next few weekends with a place at the World Cup at stake during fixtures with Kenya, USA and Portugal.
The injury list continues to subside with only Jacob Fields and Osman Dimen currently on the treatment table.
Bedford Blues Starting XV:
15. George Hendy, 14. Pat Tapley, 13. Jamie Elliott (C), 12. Joel Matavesi, 11. Seán French, 10. Louis Grimoldby, 9. Jake Garside; 1. Lewis Holsey, 2. James Fish, 3. Alfie Petch, 4. Tommy Lockett, 5. Alex Woolford, 6. Luke Frost, 7. Charles Rylands, 8. Tui Uru
Bedford Blues 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
