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2022 | A Year in Numbers
It’s been another fantastic calendar year for Bedford Blues who concluded 2022 in the perfect fashion on Boxing Day – securing victory on derby day against Ampthill and ensuring they would head into 2023 holding a position in the Championship’s Top Four.
With COVID-19 causing less of a disruption to the rugby calendar this year, the first of full normality since 2019, it has afforded some unbelievable occasions for the #BluesFamily to enjoy both on and off the pitch.
Sensational victories away at Ealing and Pirates have been intertwined with another sell-out Fireworks Display & Funfair, the full acquisition of The Burrow at the Blues and continued developments at Goldington Road including a new classroom hub facility for our charitable arm, Blues Foundation.
Our Bedford Blues Women side secured the league title back in March and we are looking forward with excitement and prosperity towards 2023 which we hope will continue our upwards trajectory across all facets.
But first it’s time to reflect on 12 months past and here, you can read some of the Bedford statistics you may have missed throughout 2022.
Club Statistics
Across 2022, a total of 27 competitive Bedford Blues matches were played. Mike Rayer’s side won on 12 occasions, while suffering 15 defeats. Highlights included those away victories against perennial Top Four sides, some attritional wins and concluding this year unbeaten at home from the first half of the 2022/23 campaign.
A total of 103 tries were scored, at an average of just under four per fixture, split down to 52 in the second half of the 2021/22 campaign and 51 currently dotted down this term. There have been 11 Try of the Week wins – the most of any side – and more tries for the ages as Blues continue to showcase edge of your seat action.
Across the calendar year, Blues finished with a positive points difference. Rayer’s side averaged just over 28 points a fixture having scored 761, while conceding 727.
Throughout 2022, a total of 66 players made one or more competitive appearance for Bedford Blues. There were four former Blues academy graduates involved – all of whom born in Bedford – as former captain Rich Lane, Tom Litchfield, Jamie Elliott and Dean Adamson all featured.
Most Appearances
26 – Alex Day came closest to featuring in every game across 2022, only missing the defeat at Doncaster back in February through concussion protocols.
25 – A strong year for Robin Williams who, having bided his time towards the back end of 2021, broke into the team and hasn’t looked back since.
24 – Dean Adamson, Joey Conway & Jack Hughes.
23 – Louis Grimoldby & Tui Uru
22 – Will Maisey
21 – Corrie Barrett
20 – Luke Frost & Matt Worley
Most Tries
22 – Dean Adamson
11 – Matt Worley
7 – Jake Garside & Alex Day
6 – Joey Conway
Points
164 – For the second calendar year in succession, Will Maisey tops the charts for Bedford Blues and also heads into 2023 as the Championship’s leading marksman following a superb start to this season.
110 – An extremely lethal year for Dean Adamson as he continues his quest towards becoming Bedford Blues’ most lethal marksman. He heads into 2023 in sixth position (111) and trails Derek Wyatt who is out in-front on 145.
64 – A lot of hugely important points from the boot of Louis Grimoldby this year including in that stunning victory down at Ealing and in the Championship Cup in 21/22.
55 – Rewarded for his efforts at club level with an international call-up to Hong Kong, it's been another impressive year for Magic who added two on Boxing Day to see us through to victory.
Notable Appearance Milestones
500 – Director of Rugby, Mike Rayer celebrated half a millennium of matches in charge of the club during our thumping victory over London Scottish in March. Despite trailing at half-time, Blues came out firing in the second half to conclude the afternoon with ten tries in a 62-21 success.
100 – The longest serving current member of our forwards pack, Jacob Fields became the latest to join our illustrious century club when we held our first ever competitive meeting with Caldy on Ladies Day back in October. Cubby led the squad out for a 52-29 victory.
50 – Two players celebrated reaching 50 appearances this year and they came in consecutive weekends back in March. As Mike Rayer was celebrating 500 games in charge, Joe Atkinson was celebrating featuring in 10% of those game while Matt Worley followed suit in the next game for our Real Ale Festival against Coventry.
Notable Try Milestones
100 – Dean Adamson became just the 11th man to notch 100 tries for Bedford Blues as we kickstarted our 2021/22 Championship Cup campaign against Nottingham back in April. Deano needed two heading into the game and dotted down his second with the last passage of play to spark wild celebrations within the squad.
What was your favourite moment of 2022? Let us know on social media by telling us your favourite memories and sharing your best photos!
