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REPORT | Record breaking day for Blues Women
It was another historic afternoon at Goldington Road as Bedford Blues Women ran in 15 tries to set their highest ever score-line with a 97-5 victory over Bletchley Women.
It was the perfect way for Eddie Rennell's side to respond to the shock home defeat against Stamford last time out, and sees them move back up to at least third, and maybe even second dependant on the Welwyn v Ipswich scoreline, and still with games in hand.
Just about everything they wanted to do worked and was a huge testament to the dedication put in over the last four weeks in training to re-write the wrongs - you could see the trick plays they'd be building and most of them went to plan as they delighted a vocal home support with a sensational display.
If Rennell described the Stamford defeat as the worst performance of his tenure, he'd be harsh not to give this one the best.
Before we get into the semantics and the debrief, actually massive testament to Bletchley who in fairness to them kept going and going despite an onslaught from the pacey Bedford back three and they thoroughly deserved a consolation score to have at least something to take back with them to Buckinghamshire.
This Bedford team knows all too well how many sides forfeit matches, including one two years ago that was abandoned at half-time, so a huge amount of kudos and respect to Bletchley for fighting with only 15 players in their matchday squad - even down to 14 in the last twenty minutes.
Some other teams wouldn't have even shown up, let alone play 80 minutes, so it's important to highlight that.
Now, onto the Bedford performance, and you'd be a very harsh member of the coaching staff to find too much fault in what was a dominant display.
Yes, the team have a perfectionist mentality, so will be bitterly disappointed to have been breached defensively midway through the second half. And they'll probably be looking at the photos of the scoreboard and thinking just one more try would have seen them eclipse the ton. Still not 100% sure that the scoreboard can count that high anyway!
A massive thirteeen of the 15 tries in total came from the backs division and the duo of Berri Clarke and Claire Cranfield were having a you score, I score competition out on the field - scoring four apiece including both the opening and concluding tries of the afternoon.
We'll have to check the records but Clarke won't be too far away from being the highest ever try scorer in a Bedford Blues Women jersey since the team's inception in 2020. She seems to score so freely and must be towards double figures, if not more, already.
Emma Graham mixed another steely defensive display with two of her own - including one right off the training ground - plus Emma Hunter also got in on the act as the team built a 59-0 lead at the break.
In addition, there were nice stories for both Gemma Cook - scoring her first in Blues colours - while Chloe Flynn-Brown signed off her time in Bedford prior to secondment in Australia with an inaugural try.
Laura Stephens - who has featured in both the forwards and backs this season but wore eight on this occasion - completed the scoring with a double and her first on the hallowed turf of Goldington Road.
A phenomenal afternoon's work as they continue to at least make Peterborough win the league through their own merit - the Cambridgeshire outfit again notched up a bonus point success at Wymondham to maintain the gap at the top.
Don't miss out on the fun with two more home league games for Rennell's side in the coming weeks - first at home to Welwyn (9th March) then Wymondham (23rd March). Buy tickets with a 50% reduction online simply by clicking here.
Bedford Blues Women Starting XV:
15. Emma Graham, 14. Claire Cranfield, 13. Berri Clarke, 12. Emma Hunter, 11. Chloe Flynn-Brown, 10. Lucy Middleton (C), 9. Emily Wallbank; 1. Lauren Mason, 2. Alivia Usher-Harris, 3. Millie Rennell, 4. Catherine Chambers, 5. Kelly Hodgson, 6. Elena Famiglietti, 7. Megan Solomon, 8. Laura Stephens
Bedford Blues Women Replacements:
Emily McBarron, Steph-Sarah McPhillips, Heather Cousins, Esme Fish, Gemma Cook, Sophie Singleton-Sells
*Matchday Photography by Roy Long, Simon Fraser & Beth Walliker*
