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REPORT | Blues secure first away win of 2026
Bedford Blues ascended back into second place of the Champ Rugby table with a vital first away win of 2026, edging out Caldy 23-19 at Paton Field.
The lads really don’t like making it easy. But then sometimes you wouldn’t have it any other way. A game that had just about everything, but most importantly five points for Bedford who rise to second in the table ahead of the final block of Champ Rugby fixtures.
A well-deserved rest coming after this one. The lads gave it absolutely everything. You could see when Fred Tuilagi and Tui Uru came over for their post-match press duties, just how much they’d given the cause. And the same can be said for all 23 players on the pitch.
For Joe Hill, a massive moment in his Bedford career getting the vital turnover in the 84th minute of the contest. He’s worked extremely hard this season but being alongside the likes of Dean Adamson, Ryan Hutler and George Worth, he was always going to have to bide his time. This will do him the world of good.
From not being in the 23, to stepping up onto the bench with Ryan Hutler pulled out injured, to deciding the game in Bedford’s favour. That’s the sort of heart, spirit and determination from every member of the squad and just why they ultimately won the game.
As always, there will be things to work on, the coaches and the squad themselves will internally demand that. They will perhaps wonder just how they found themselves in the position of fighting for their lives at the end.
Blues dominated territory in the second half but somehow lost it 5-3. Multiple attacking sets went abegging and on another day, the result could have been mightily different. Discipline again a slight problem with a yellow card early doors, and four successive penalties right at the death made it a nerve-jangling ending.
Three weeks to refocus and go again for the final block of Champ Rugby, looking to cement a home game in the post-season play-offs. Just how good it would be to have another game at Goldington Road, whether a semi-final or quarter-final.
It’s in Blues’ grasps and they just have to keep things steady. Do what they always do, take it game by game.
In terms of the game itself, the tries came from Ilan Evans, George Worth, Fred Tuilagi and Joey Conway. A vital penalty from Will Maisey in the second half.
Time to rest up and recover, and come back even stronger. Come On You Blues!
