News
2023 | A Year in Numbers
We might be a week into 2024 already, but there’s still time to reminisce on the past and look back at the recent calendar year which was another vintage one for Bedford Blues – setting it up nicely for what’s to come over the next 12 months.
There were some more unbelievable occasions for the #BluesFamily to enjoy both on and off the pitch – including international rugby returning to Goldington Road, some stellar performances by both senior sides all intertwined with another sell-out Fireworks Display & Funfair and continued developments at the Club.
Here’s some of the statistics you may have missed throughout 2023…
Club Statistics
Across 2023, a total of 26 competitive Bedford Blues matches were played. Mike Rayer’s side won on 16 occasions, suffering just nine defeats and a 42-all thriller against Doncaster Knights. Highlights include winning every Battle of Bedfordshire in that timeframe, impressive away successes at places like Cornish Pirates and scoring 40+ points on seven different occasions.
A total of 112 tries were scored (nine more than in 2022), at an average of over four per fixture, split down to 56 in the second half of the 2022/23 campaign and 46 in the first half of the current season. There were 13 Try of the Week wins – more than all the other Championship competitors combined – and more tries for the ages as Blues continued to showcase edge of your seat action.
Across the calendar year, Blues once again finished with a positive points difference. Rayer’s side averaged 33.5 points a game having scored 871, while conceding 650. This was a huge improvement on 2022 whose figures read 761 for and 727 against.
Throughout 2023, a total of 64 players made one or more competitive appearance for Bedford Blues (two fewer than 2022).
Most Appearances
26 – Louis Grimoldby ended 2023 as the only player to feature in every competitive fixture.
25 – Robin Williams and Sean French both missed just one game apiece.
24 – Joey Conway and Luke Frost
22 – Will Maisey
21 – Dean Adamson and Alex Day
Most Tries
28 – Way out in-front for this category, Sean French had a lethal year and one of the most impressive of club history in the professional era.
11 – Fellow Irishman, Joey Conway was the only other player to total up double figures.
9 – Dean Adamson
Most Points
165 – For the third calendar year in succession, Will Maisey topped the charts for Bedford Blues.
143 – Sean French
120 – Louis Grimoldby
Notable Appearance Milestones
50 – With the core group together for the past few seasons, there were a whole host of players to rack up 50 appearances during 2023; namely Alex Day, Jack Hughes, Will Maisey, Joey Conway, Luke Frost, Louis Grimoldby, James Lennon and Robin Williams.
