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20 Years On - Powergen Shield Victory
We're closing in on the 20th anniversary of lifting the Powergen Shield at Twickenham, so on #ThrowbackThursday it seemed appropriate to reminisce about a fantastic day at Rugby HQ.
The next couple of weeks see three notable anniversaries commemorated at Goldington Road with 50 years since the RFU Club Competition success coming in two weeks' time and the 29th April marks 30 years since winning Courage League Three.
But the month kicks off with the last time the senior men's team secured at trophy at Twickenham as a late Leigh Hinton penalty settled a 14-13 nailbiter against Plymouth Albion.
It was the most extraordinary game. Bedford were behind for 74 minutes of the contest, but fortunes favoured the brave and the familiar steely grit and determination helped Blues over the line in front of an estimated 5,000 travelling supporters.
Plymouth started quickest and opened the scoring in just the second minute through back row Alfie To’oala’s try, converted by former Blues full-back and captain James Pritchard.
Albion extended their lead into double figures midway into the first half through a penalty after Blues were adjudged to have committed an infringement at the lineout.
Undeterred, Blues stuck to their game plan and sought about getting themselves back into the game. They played the more expansive and free flowing rugby, but had to settle for two penalties from Hinton, either side of a drop goal down the other end from Matt Carrington, making it 13-6 to Plymouth at half-time.
Bedford made a series of unforced errors as the forwards looked to exert pressure; knock-ons being a particular problem. All those issues were brushed aside, however, on 64 minutes when Blues made it over the try line following a sweeping counterattack.
From a lineout, outside half Ali Hepher released a long pass to former Scottish international Craig Moir to create the first clean line break of Bedford’s attack. Full-back Mark Harris was on hand to seal the vital try, being brought down just short before reaching to dot down over the whitewash.
Unusually, Hinton missed with the conversion, which would have levelled the scores, but he kept his composure when slotting a 25-yard penalty from the right shortly after.
Nothing’s ever done easy in Bedford so there was plenty of heart in mouth time before Blues could be declared champions. Plymouth kept ball in hand well into the red, but the defence held firm to secure the club’s second Twickenham triumph, 30 years after the first.
The Powergen Shield was on its way to Goldington Road.
Bedford Blues team that day: Mark Harris, Craig Moir, Leigh Hinton, Matt Allen (C), Mike Staten (Spencer Brown), Ali Hepher, Ian Vass; Matt Volland (Soane Tonga’uiha), Chris Johnson, John Brooks, Jon Phillips, Arthur Brenton, Nic Strauss, Ben Lewitt, Junior Paramore (Shaun Brady)
Captain on the day, Matt Allen said: "A brilliant day. A hugely proud moment for the club and for myself personally. Playing at Twickenham is a full day experience, starting at the crack of dawn and seeing all the supporters piling onto coaches to join us in London, to then going through the day and lifting the trophy.
"One of my main memories was that I'd actually won every coin toss all that season, and despite being asked to call in the final, I lost for the first time. I didn't tell the lads actually, although I don't think anyone was too superstitious in the group. A bit of a chuckle to myself about that one and then quickly on with the game.
"The Powergen Shield was the pinnacle of Championship Rugby. For some of the lads that day was the highlight of their rugby career and as the captain, I was very aware of that and the different emotions within the squad. It was about tempering that beecause yes we were at Twickenham, but we there to win, not just to enjoy it.
"We knew we had it in us to win the game and to be able to take the trophy over to the supporters who were packed into the East Stand was brilliant and a very special moment. People still say about 'that was the defining day in my supporting of Bedford' and its lovely to hear."
