REPORT | Blues battle to win over Coventry

Posted: 24th January 2026
 

Bedford Blues maintained their impressive home record with a come from behind 38-31 victory over their oldest rivals Coventry, in one of the standout games of the Champ Rugby campaign so far.

Such was the anticipated quality of the game that it was chosen by Clubber TV as their showcase game of the weekend, and it certainly delivered where neither side really deserved to lose.

Blues Forwards Coach, Cameron Boon said: “The most pleasing thing, and it’s usually the same with this group of lads, is their resolve and the connections they have. They work so hard for each other, and it seems to be the longer the game goes on, the more they come into their own.”

Played exactly a year since the last time these sides battled at Goldington Road, the game ran pretty much exactly the same in that Coventry came out of the blocks flying, and Bedford gritted their way to victory at the end.

Bedford are known for their expansive style, but it was Coventry pulling out all the moves in the first 40 minutes to score some quality tries, Sam Maunder pulling the strings to have the try bonus point wrapped up before half-time.

Senitiki Nayalo and Jordon Poole both profited from good maul sets, while Chester Owen and Allan Ferrie both finished off exquisite scores through the hands.

Bedford had to work hard for their scores but made it just a seven-point deficit through their forwards charging over from close range; Fred Tuilagi, Rory Ward and Oisin Heffernan all bundling over.

In the second half, Coventry just couldn’t get going and rarely spent time outside of their own half. Bedford got to work, and when Dafydd-Rhys Tiueti saw yellow for a high shot, they profited.

The mercurial Will Maisey levelled the scores by converting his own try, before Fyn Brown found space on the edge to put the home side in-front for the first time. Maisey’s penalty gave them a ten-point advantage.

Coventry were better when back to a full compliment but never really threatened, nudging a Tommy Mathews penalty over late on to find two points to take home, despite their first defeat in six.

Player of the Match, Maisey added: “The first half was extremely frustrating, but we managed to find some good momentum later in the game. Always pleasing to win this one with such a big rivalry.”