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REPORT | Heartbreak at Goldington Road
Sport can be a really, really cruel beast and that was the case in point at Goldington Road as Bedford Blues Women’s Road to Twickenham came to a heart-breaking end with a 22-15 defeat to Hucclecote Ladies.
The tears at the final whistle, not just from the players but from supporters inside Goldington Road too, show just how much this hurt. There’s so much you want to say to try and wipe away those tears, but you get the feeling this will sting for a little while.
Blues Women have been fantastic this season and have worn the badge with distinction. They have blazed a trail for women’s rugby in Bedford, are incredible role models for the Junior Blues Girls and will be back to their best before you know it.
Every team loses at some stage, invincibility is kind of a myth. The renowned Arsenal ‘Invincibles’ side lost six times in cup competition that infamous season, statistics can be manipulated.
Bedford always talk about the ‘Invincibles’ season of 1893-94 but even they lost a fixture described as a ‘challenge’ game instead of a full fixture.
Looking even closer to home, Peterborough have been held in the highest of regards for what they did last season, winning every league game, but they didn’t win the cup either so they must have lost somewhere that season too.
It happens. What Blues can now do is re-focus and look to emulate what Peterborough did in winning every league fixture. Theres three games to go, two of which at home, and they can still achieve something pretty special.
Yes, the cup is only going to get harder next season as they now become ineligible for this competition with promotion to NC1. But at the start of the season, promotion was the aim and the cup an added bonus. They’ve achieved what they desperately wanted and that’s all that matters.
Hucclecote were deserving winners. They dominated pretty much all the main facets of the game, and we wish them well in their quest for Twickenham, as well as a promotion from their NC2 division.
It takes something special to win going up the slope in the second half, particularly when you’re losing against a side with such confidence. They stuck in the fight and ground Blues down with a flurry of late scores to seal the deal. It’ll be one hell of a bus trip back to Gloucestershire and we wish them nothing but the best moving forwards.
You could tell from the moment they arrived, that this was their cup final in a metaphorical sense. Playing at a venue such as Goldington Road doesn’t come about every other week for them, that was evident by the number of selfies and vlogs when they first got here.
For Bedford, this was another hurdle on the way to an actual cup final. Maybe that was the difference.
A try on her return from injury for Emily Wallbank was warmly received by the 212 spectators inside the ground while Alivia Usher-Harris also dotted down. Skipper Lucy Middleton again added points from the boot.
This will sting but there’s a bigger picture out there which they can keep on painting in the coming weeks. Twickenham’s not even that good anyway…
Bedford Blues Women Starting XV:
15. Emma Graham, 14. Sophie Singleton-Sells, 13. Naomi Stockham, 12. Emma Hunter, 11. Amy Winter, 10. Lucy Middleton (C), 9. Esme Fish; 1. Emily McBarron, 2. Alivia Usher-Harris, 3. Millie Rennell, 4. Catherine Chambers, 5. Kelly Hodgson, 6. Heather Cousins, 7. Bex Wright, 8. Yaz Morrison
Bedford Blues Replacements:
Steph-Sarah McPhillips, Hanah Donovan, Emry Bond, Elena Famiglietti, Abi Wilkin, Emily Wallbank
Huccleote Ladies Starting XV:
15. Charlotte Stallard, 14. Robyn Biggs, 13. Bekah Rice, 12. Jo Harris, 11. Lottie Eamer, 10. Chloe Barrow, 9. Catrin Garland; 1. Gina Stephens, 2. Leah Hillard, 3. Eileen Bowden, 4. Judith Bowen, 5. Alice Christopher, 6. Abi Taylor, 7. Vicki Nuttall, 8. Paige Allen
Hucclecote Ladies Replacements:
Lynsey Davis, Bridgette Frazer, Michelle Byrne, Bee Douglas-Brown, Louise Taylor
