Bedford Blues Rugby Club
Founded: 1876
Home Ground: Goldington Road
Director of Rugby: Mike Rayer
Club Captain: James Prichard
Last Season: Third, play-off Runners Up,
Semi Finals British and Irish Cup
2012/13:
Last season Bedford was one of the shining lights in the
division, finishing third in the regular season, as well as making the semi
finals of the British and Irish Cup. With three of the top six in the try
scorers chart, their final tally of 78 was only two tries fewer and 13 points
less than the run-away winners Newcastle Falcons. Bedford made the play-off
final despite not having any aspirations of promotion due to the financial
implications that go with progression to the Aviva Premiership. Having
despatched Nottingham home and away in the semi final, they fell to a 9-18 home
defeat to the Falcons which put paid to any realistic challenge. A 31-24 loss
at Kingston Park meant that Newcastle was promoted at the first time of asking.
Bedford are the only side in the Championship still maintaining their amateur
status, and do not wish to progress any further. Chairman Geoff Irvine stating
that the financial gap is too vast for a club like theirs to bridge; ‘If
Bedford were promoted to the Premiership, I would have to sack half the squad
because the gap between the divisions is so big’.
2013/14:
Pre-season Bedford succumbed to a strong Saracens side, a
ten try 71-12 thumping, this following on from a 45-21 home defeat to
Northampton, notable for a bone-crunching tackle by Courtney Lawes on former
Jersey favourite Michael Le Bougeois. Bedfords opening match this season began
with a defeat in a bad tempered match against relegated London Welsh. A player
sin binned in the second minute, then followed a red for both sides in a feisty
first half that saw the Blues trail 0-13 at the break. The Blues with sub Le
Bougeois on rallied but eventually fell to a 23-14 defeat. Expect to see a
smattering of duel-registered Saracens players turning out for the Blues today.
Hooker Charlie Clare and Fly-half Michael Le Bougeois both turned out for
Jersey last season, and both will be looking to put one over on their old club.
Any previous:
The first competitive match between the two was in Jersey last season.
It was the first game that the home faithful began to
believe that Jersey could compete after two disappointing home defeats. After going down 19-29, the Bedford boss Mike Rayer slammed his team for a capitulation in the
second half and said that Jersey deserved to win, and would have done had
the game lasted five more minutes. With tries
from Glenn Bryce, Nathan Hannay and Ed Dawson in the bag, Jersey turned down a
kick for a bonus point, instead they pushed for a fourth try that would have
yielded two, but came away with nothing except belief.
In the second game up at Goldington Road, Jersey went down 38-21. Behind
14-9 at half time, mistakes cost Jersey dear and
despite tries by Nicky Griffiths and a late score by Guy Thompson, Jersey were
punished by the kicking of James Prichard and left still searching for an elusive away win.
After the opening day defeat to
Plymouth Albion, Jersey will be looking to get a home win sooner than the four
attempts it took last season. If Jersey can bring their first half performance
from that match, and leave the second half capitulation behind, there is belief
that Bedford can be attacked on the set piece and weaknesses highlighted by
Welsh still give cause for optimism. Not finishing lower than third in the
regular season in the last three seasons, Bedford provide a huge test in what
will be a very difficult match.
Ones to
watch:
Name: James Pritchard
DoB: 21/07/1979
Position: Fullback
Height: 1.76m
Weight: 83kg
Australian-born James Pritchard is
Bedford Blues club captain and has been one of their most consistent stars in
recent seasons regularly topping the clubs points table. In his second spell at
the club, he has amassed over 2000 points for the Blues. His kicking ability
and eye for the try line has also recently seen him become Canada’s all-time
top point scorer. The 34 year old full back has previously turned out for
Plymouth, Perpignan and Northampton. With three player of the year awards in
his time, given the chance he will punish any Jersey indiscipline.
Name: Neville Edwards
DoB: 22/11/1987
Position: Wing
Height: 1.69m
Weight: 84kg
Edwards signed for the Blues in the
summer following three extremely impressive seasons with Rosslyn Park where he
was described as an ‘explosive force’. Having turned out for the English
Counties side, his try-scoring ability was highlighted with 17 last season in
National One last term. Edwards scored a brace in the pre-season fixture against
Saracens and then crossed the whitewash against London Welsh in their defeat
last weekend.
Name: Charlie Clare
DoB: 16/12/1991
Position: Hooker
Height: 1.82m
Weight: 112kg
After coming through the Leicester
Academy, Clare swapped Welford Road for Goldington Road in the summer and has
already shown what a talented youngster he is, especially with his lineout
throws. Having turned out for England under 16’s he is one with a very bright
future. No stranger to the home faithful having spent several months and eight
appearances with Jersey last season, Clare was already well adapted to the
Championship ahead of his move to the Blues.
Name: Ben Gulliver
DoB: 13/06/1981
Position: Second Row
Height: 1.96m
Weight: 109kg
Gulliver picked up the coveted
Player’s Player of the Season Award following an impressive first year with the
Blues last season. The second rower was a sensation during his time with the
Cornish Pirates which led him to the Premiership with Worcester. Six feet five
and 17 stone, he has a huge impact at the lineout. Vastly experienced and
influential, he has continued to have a huge impact on all parts of the field
for the Blues.
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