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MATCH FOCUS | Cup campaign continues at Coventry
Bedford Blues will be looking to keep their Championship Cup hopes alive while hunting a first victory in Coventry for over a decade when they make the relatively short trip to the West Midlands on Saturday (KO 3pm).
You can still buy tickets direct from our hosts for this fixture, click here to join us at Butts Park Arena.
Big Game Preview
After a couple of close encounters in recent seasons, Mike Rayer’s charges will be looking for a first success at Butts Park Arena since October 2008.
A notoriously difficult place to go, with a highly vocal and vociferous support, Blues will need to be almost faultless to get the desired result. They do head in with confidence, however, following three wins out of four throughout January.
Alex Rae’s Coventry side are flying at the moment and are currently unbeaten in five matches. Only Ealing have tasted away success on Coventry’s home soil this season with the hosts looking to maintain their upwards momentum again this Saturday.
How the cup group stands
Put simply, Blues need to win both of their remaining cup fixtures and rely on results to go their way in order to qualify for the Championship Cup semi-finals.
Steve Boden’s Doncaster Knights currently sit top of the pool, six points clear of Bedford, and have destiny in their own hands. Blues will focus on themselves and try to get the result that keeps them in the hunt, then hope for a favour from London Scottish who host the Knights also on Saturday.
It’s unlikely that Blues will be able to go through as the best placed runners-up and achieve the fourth spot on offer for the semi-finals with Ealing or Jersey – both in the same group and with healthy points hauls – likely to achieve that spot.
We’ve Met Before
Bedford have only faced Northampton Saints (211) on more occasions than Coventry, with the two old rivals contesting 184 previous encounters since a first meeting in 1894. Coventry hold the better record overall with 110 victories to Bedford’s 62, while there have been 12 draws.
Blues have come out on top in the two most notable meetings, however, securing a 13-6 RFU Club Competition Semi-Final victory at Goldington Road in 1975 on their way to national trophy success, alongside the thrilling 15-try 53-52 success in January 2019.
Matchday Coverage
If you’re not heading with us to the BPA, we’ve got you covered! Continue to show your support by joining in the conversation on matchday. Send us your photos and messages using #BluesFamily across all our social media platforms.
Head to Twitter for our live feed and much more, including post-game video features and the result of the Followers Man of the Match award. Pre-game checkout our Instagram channel for live content as the teams arrive.
Don’t forget, tickets remain available from our hosts simply by clicking here.
