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REPORT | Blues Women flying high in victory
There were planes overhead throughout the game and it was Bedford Blues Women flying high at the final whistle as they maintained their perfect start to the season in all competitions thanks to a dominative 22-5 success over Stockwood Park.
They might not have been dining out first class in terms of performance, but sometimes you have to tough it out in economy and battle they did against a Stockwood side determined to stop their 100% record.
Conditions both on the ground and up high made it a tough and enterprising game but Bedford stuck in there and ground their way to victory with a performance spent for the most part away from their own runway and instead in opposition airspace.
It was an attritional start as both sides sensed that whoever could get to take-off first would have a huge psychological advantage on a pitch that looked like a quagmire by the end of the game.
Sometimes you just need that ‘This is your Captain speaking’ to tell you everything’s going to be okay and you can begin your journey; and after Lucy Middleton stood up right on cue, the team didn’t look back and shifted through the gears towards their final destination.
It was 7-0 at the break thanks to Middleton’s conversion of her own score. Sometimes the engines need a little bit of time to ignite, but once the fire gets burning, the flame can become eternal.
A neat penalty gave some daylight on the scoreboard and Bedford continued with their ascent, reaching cruise control thanks to a double from Heidi Lawson.
The consolation try from Stockwood did nothing to stop the flight, but in fairness was just rewards for their own performance which was spent for the large part in trying to stop the onslaught with some huge defensive sets. They’ll cause problems to teams in the league.
In the end, Bedford executed the perfect landing, carrying with them a cabin load of positives from another good day’s work.
The next flight to arrive at Goldington Road will be the 14:00 service from Hitchin on Sunday 17th December.
Bedford Blues Women Starting XV:
15. Emma Graham, 14. Sophie Singleton-Sells, 13. Alyce Trude, 12. Emma Hunter, 11. Amy Winter, 10. Lucy Middleton (C), 9. Esme Fish; 1. Emry Bond, 2. Steph Sarah-McPhillips, 3. Lauren Mason, 4. Cat Chambers, 5. Yasmin Morrison, 6. Elena Famiglietti, 7. Heidi Lawson, 8. Bex Wright
Bedford Blues Replacements:
Hanah Donovan, Alivia Usher-Harris, Millie Rennell, Gem Cook
*Matchday Photography by Roy Long*
