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REPORT | Blues Women draw at Hitchin
Captain Kelly Hodgson reports as Bedford Blues Women play out a 17-17 draw at Hitchin Ladies on a momentous afternoon where fly-half Lucy Middleton became the first to reach 50 caps for the team.
Blues made a strong start, dominating territory in the opening quarter. Their early pressure paid off when Emily McBarron powered over the line, with Middleton adding the conversion.
Continued control and mounting penalties against Hitchin kept Bedford firmly on the front foot, and in the 22nd minute, Kelly Hodgson reacted quickly to a tap-and-go penalty 10 metres out, extending the lead.
Bedford carried their momentum into the second half, maintaining a strong grip on the tempo. However, Hitchin emerged revitalised after the break, crossing for a converted try that narrowed the margin and shifted the momentum.
Blues responded through a superb solo effort from Katherine Simpson, whose pace and footwork along the wing stretched the lead to ten. But Hitchin remained relentless. A charged-down clearance handed the hosts another converted try, and in the closing minutes, they added a penalty to level the match at 17–17.
While Bedford will feel this was a match that slipped away after a commanding first-half performance, it was a game that ultimately swung in Hitchin’s favour in the second half, where they commanded both territory and momentum.
There were notable positives to build on, as well as clear areas for refinement ahead of the week’s training. Blues are back on the road next weekend for the rescheduled fixture against Wymondham Wasps — with another player set to celebrate their 50-cap milestone.
