News

REPORT | Seven try Blues stun Leicester

Posted: 7th October 2023

Bedford Blues became the fourth Championship side to topple Premiership opposition with a seven-try showing against Leicester Tigers for a 47-28 victory at Goldington Road.

It may have been a weaker Leicester side than in previous weeks but try telling a vociferous Goldington Road crowd that this victory wasn’t as important as against a full-strength side, as Bedford secured a first win over Tigers since 1979.

Star man and Bedford player coach, Michael Le Bourgeois said: “We moved the ball well, played the Bedford DNA that we get excited about and that’s ultimately what the crowd come to see. That was really pleasing for us.

“That’s a really strong finish for us in this Premiership Rugby Cup. The boys should be really proud of the performances they’ve put in throughout these past few weeks, particularly in the recent games against Premiership opposition.”

Blues started strongly and opened the scoring inside three minutes. The only Northampton dual-reg player in the side Tom Litchfield doing the damage against his parent club’s East Midlands rivals inside three minutes.

Joe Howard also dotted down early on for the home side, but Tigers roared back into proceedings and led at half time. Inside centre Joe Woodward scored twice, while a penalty try on the half hour saw them 21-12 to the good at the break.

From half time, it was all about Bedford who added another five tries to rip through their young visitors, working the transitions well and putting together some classic joue as normally evidenced at Goldington Road.

Dean Adamson got his customary try then Matt Worley dotted down to turn the tide back in Mike Rayer’s sides favour.

Heading into the game knowing a point would see them through, Leicester secured it with a fourth try – Ben Woollett, so often a thorn against Bedford when in Jersey colours came back to haunt them again with a clever move on the wing on his Leicester debut.

When Cam King put Bedford back into the lead, there was only going to be one victor with further tries from Joey Conway and Sean French completing a job well done on home soil.

Try scorer Conway added: “It just clicked for us. We worked on our defence in training this week, and that was really good from us. In attack, we took our chances when they came so I think it was a very good day for us in all departments.”

Teams

BEDFORD BLUES

15. Matt Worley, 14. Sean French, 13. Tom Litchfield, 12. Michael Le Bourgeois, 11. Dean Adamson (51'), 10. Will Maisey (52'), 9. James Lennon; 1. Jamie Jack (45'), 2. James Fish (C) (64'), 3. Oisin Heffernan (45'), 4. Robin Williams, 5. Alex Woolford (58'), 6. Joe Howard, 7. Kieran Curran (58'), 8. Cameron King

Replacements

16. Jacob Fields (64'), 17. Joey Conway (45'), 18. Bryan O'Connor (45'), 19. Jordan Onojaife (58'), 20. Luke Frost, 21. Jac Arthur (58'), 22. Louis Grimoldby (52'), 23. Jordan Venter (51')

LEICESTER TIGERS

15. Elliot Gourlay (71'), 14. Ben Woollett, 13. Jacob Cusick, 12. Joseph Woodward, 11. Joe Browning (61'), 10. Kieran Wilkinson, 9. Sam Edwards (48'); 1. Archie Van Der Flier (71'), 2. Archie Vanes, 3. Dan Richardson (71'), 4. Lewis Chessum, 5. Sam Carter (C) (61'), 6. Finn Carnduff, 7. Emeka Ilione (48'), 8. Richard Clift (71')

Replacements:

16. Finn Theobald-Thomas (48'), 17. Cameron Miell (71'), 18. Ollie Crane (71'), 19. Tom Manz (61'), 20. Simon Koroiyadi (71'), 21. Ollie Allan (48'), 22. Charlie Myall (61'), 23. Morgan Meredith (71')