TEAM NEWS | Four changes for Jersey battle

Posted: 14th April 2023
 

Mike Rayer has named his squad as Bedford Blues look to return to winning ways in Championship league action as they welcome in-form Jersey Reds to the mainland for a penultimate home fixture of the season at Goldington Road on Saturday (KO 3pm).

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A hugely exciting Top Four battle, which will take place in-front of the live stream cameras, battles between these sides have produced some special moments in the past decade and Saturday should be no different with both teams in need of a result.

Over half of the previous meetings have been decided by a score or less and another close encounter of the rugby kind is expected at Goldington Road with a cumulative 1,350 points scored between the pair this campaign.

Blues will hope to again be backed by a packed and vociferous crowd through the turnstiles which could prove the deciding factor on matchday.

After last week’s Mobbs Memorial Match afforded a chance to get much needed minutes into the legs of the players returning from injury, Rayer is now able to call upon some of those in competitive league action with four changes from the last Championship fixture against Ealing.

That sees two changes in the forwards pack and the same number in the backs division as Michael Le Bourgeois and Will Maisey return to the Starting XV and form the 10-12 partnership.

Emeka Atuanya starts his first league outing after some impressive cameos from the bench throughout the season, while the changes are completed by the rotation of the tighthead jersey continuing and Corrie Barrett this time handed a starting berth.

Forwards duo Osman Dimen and Alex Woolford continue their recoveries with a spot among the replacements bench.

Jacob Fields, Jordan Onojaife, Jac Arthur, Jamie Elliott and Matt Worley are unavailable for selection.

Bedford Blues Starting XV:

15. Rich Lane, 14. Sean French, 13. Ethan Grayson, 12. Michael Le Bourgeois, 11. Dean Adamson, 10. Will Maisey, 9. Alex Day (C); 1. Joey Conway, 2. James Fish, 3. Corrie Barrett, 4. Robin Williams, 5. Tom Lockett, 6. Emeka Atuanya, 7. Luke Frost, 8. Tui Uru

Bedford Blues Replacements:

16. Jack Hughes, 17. Monty Royston, 18. Osman Dimen, 19. Alex Woolford, 20. Charles Rylands, 21. Jake Garside, 22. Louis Grimoldby, 23. George Hendy