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REPORT | Boxing Day delight in Ampthill derby clash

Posted: 26th December 2022

It was derby day delight in-front of a sell-out Goldington Road as Bedford Blues put an off-colour Ampthill to the sword and continue their unbeaten run in-front of home support with a 38-14 victory on Boxing Day.

After two really tough weekends at the unbeaten league leaders, this was the perfect way to bounce back off the canvas and show the rest of the Championship what Bedford Blues are really about as they intertwined some lethal attacking intent with resolute defensive tenacity to get the job done.

The first half was about as good as it gets as Blues ripped their opponents apart time and time again as they really drove home the ascendency when playing with a man advantage as well as some individual genius to go in at the break 33-0 to the good.

You knew it was going to be a good afternoon just six minutes into the contest when George Hendy twisted and turned for the game’s opening score. Blues peeled off the scrum well and the man of the match did the rest to grind his way to the line as a sign of intent and a fast start.

Hendy’s performance was mesmeric at full-back and he’s fully deserving of the accolades but you really could have picked anyone to win man of the match – it really was that good of a team performance with everyone playing their part.

Will Maisey’s conversion from the touchline further set the tone and he chipped in with a crucial eight points off the tee from six attempts and controlled the game well alongside his half-back partner, Alex Day who was perhaps unlucky not to get a try himself with a few snipes near the line.

Next it was Jamie Elliott to get in at the corner as Blues played a sweeping move the length of the field, before Jac Arthur came back to haunt his former club with a smart running line to receive the offload and sprint clear.

The bonus point was wrapped up with just 22 minutes on the clock. After waiting in the shadows for the opening onslaught, Dean Adamson was back to his usual self by getting on the end of a chip through and dotting down try number 111 in Blues colours.

The first half was rounded off with a moment of individual ingenuity as Matt Worley got in on the act. First, the right winger charged down a clearance kick, knocked it backwards before picking it up himself with no Blues player in sight and somehow skipping the challenges to glide home. It was a moment of sheer awe as everyone watched in amazement as the move unfolded.

The good times continued to roll to begin the second half as Worley got his second. Again it was intelligent work from Blues who worked the ball well when in space to get it wide and send the magic man over unopposed.

Huge credit to Ampthill because they never gave up; and fought resolutely to make the scoreboard a bit more better viewing. Not many teams swap the half-back pairing in the first-half but fair play for doing so and ex-Blue Pete White and Tom Hardwick certainly brought a much better dynamism and speed of thought that caused problems.

It was always going to be a driving maul at some point and after defending four of them heroically, Blues were eventually breached with about 15 minutes to go as hooker Beck Cutting drove his troops forward.

A really nice score from Tom Bacon – following clever work by Brandon Jackson-Richards – rounded off the scoring in front of a delirious Goldington Road crowd.

Blues sign off 2022 in the perfect fashion and looks towards the New Year with lots to be optimistic about as they retained their Top Four place in the Championship Table.

*Matchday Photography supplied by Claire Jones - redhatphoto.co.uk*

Teams

BEDFORD BLUES

15. George Hendy, 14. Matt Worley, 13. Jamie Elliott (53'), 12. Michael Le Bourgeois, 11. Dean Adamson, 10. Will Maisey (67'), 9. Alex Day (C) (58'); 1. Joey Conway (55'), 2. Jack Hughes (67'), 3. Osman Dimen (37'), 4. Luke Frost, 5. Robin Williams (55'), 6. Karl Wilkins, 7. Jac Arthur (67'), 8. Tui Uru

Replacements

16. Callum Burns (67'), 17. Lewis Holsey (55'), 18. Corrie Barrett (37'), 19. Tom Lockett (55'), 20. Kieran Curran (67'), 21. Jake Garside (58'), 22. Louis Grimoldby (67'), 23. Tom Litchfield (53')

AMPTHILL

15. Tom Bacon, 14. Conor Rankin, 13. George Worth, 12. Tom Hitchcock, 11. Brandon Jackson-Richards, 10. Gwyn Parks (37'), 9. Lewis Finlay (37'); 1. Zac Nearchou (45'), 2. Beck Cutting (68'), 3. Dom Hardman (40'), 4. Charlie Beckett (C) (68'), 5. Harry Wilson (58'), 6. Caleb Montgomery, 7. Paddy Ryan (40'), 8. Morgan Strong

Replacements:

16. Matt Gallagher (68'), 17. Mikey Jones (45'), 18. Rob Hardwick (40'), 19. Cameron Boon (58'), 20. Fyn Brown (68'), 21. Toby Knight (40'), 22. Pete White (37'), 23. Tom Hardwick (37')