News

REPORT | Defeat on final day of the season

Posted: 29th April 2023

It was a tough ending to the 22/23 Championship campaign for Bedford Blues as they fell to a 43-19 defeat against Coventry.

But despite the result, take nothing away from the squad who have been fantastic for large parts of the season, and secured a fourth placed finish despite the high influx of full time, professional teams in the division.

There were positives on the day - Rich Lane marked 100 appearances for the club with an unreal display to bag himself a brace in-front of a number of his Bristol Bears teammates who turned up to Goldington Road to support.

Dean Adamson added try number 115 in Blues colours, while Will Maisey confirmed his position as leading marksman in the Championship (178 league points) and Sean French finished joint top on the league's top try scorers rankings.

Take nothing away from Coventry, who put in a special performance on the day, as Blues were probably guilty of trying to overcomplicate proceedings and were picked off when the chances arose.

Coventry were ruthless with ball in hand and Will Rigg, Louis Brown and former blue Will Chudley stood out in the backs division while Adam Peters up front helped control the game with some huge hits and offensive carries.

Of course, it wasn't how Mike Rayer's side wanted to sign off for the season, particularly with such a large crowd in attendance, but you sometimes have those days in rugby. The roar at the final whislte showed just how together the #BluesFamily has been throughout the campaign. More building blocks placed, time to add some more in the 2023/24 campaign.

Elsewhere, congratulations on the day to Jersey Reds who were crowned champions of the division and also to nearby Cambridge who will compete in the Championship for the first time having secured promotion from National One.

*Matchday Photography by Zach Levens - https://www.z-r-j.co.uk/*

Teams

BEDFORD BLUES

15. Rich Lane, 14. Sean French, 13. Michael Le Bourgeois, 12. Will Maisey, 11. Dean Adamson, 10. Louis Grimoldby (56'), 9. Alex Day (C) (56'); 1. Joey Conway (60'), 2. James Fish (53'), 3. Osman Dimen (40'), 4. Robin Williams (53'), 5. Alex Woolford (40'), 6. Luke Frost, 7. Kayde Sylvester (53'), 8. Tui Uru

Replacements

16. Jack Hughes (53'), 17. Monty Royston (60'), 18. Corrie Barrett (40'), 19. Jordan Onojaife (40'), 20. Emeka Atuanya (53'), 21. Charles Rylands (53'), 22. Jake Garside (56'), 23. Pat Tapley (56')

COVENTRY RUGBY

15. Louis Brown, 14. Tobi Wilson (57'), 13. Will Rigg, 12. Lucas Titherington (63'), 11. James Martin, 10. Evan Mitchell, 9. Will Chudley (70'); 1. Toby Trinder (C) (57'), 2. Suva Ma'asi (63'), 3. Ollie Andrews (54'), 4. James Tyas (74'), 5. Adam Peters, 6. Tom Dodd, 7. Josh Bainbridge, 8. Senitiki Nayalo (68')

Replacements:

16. Will Biggs (63'), 17. James Kenny (57'), 18. Jake Bridges (54'), 19. George Smith (74'), 20. Tom Ball (68'), 21. Will Lane (70'), 22. Ollie Betteridge (63'), 23. Louis James (57')