6 NATIONS AFTERNOON

The weather may have beaten the Plymouth match but it can't freeze the appetite of the Blues supporters for rugby as over 100 people have kept there hospitality booking to watch both 6 Nations matches in the marquee this afternoon.

The scrum bar will also be open all afternoon for those that want their rugby fix with a bit of atmosphere.  With 3 former Blues players starting for England today there is plenty of local interest.

So come to Goldington Road and join in the fun with a guest appearance from Mike Rayer and some of the players at around 3:15pm in the marquee for a question and answer session.

Scrum bar and Marquee bars open from 12:30pm

France v Italy 2:30pm    Scotland v England 5pm

FLOODLIGHT APPEAL

As we approach the end of the season I would just like to update you on the progress of the floodlight appeal.  The final cost of the new floodlights was approximately £90,000 and we are very close to that figure.

Unfortunately in December we discovered a problem with the existing gas main which had to be replaced as it was dangerous.  The costs for that - due to the length of the replacement gas main - is £30,000 plus.  Therefore we are going to continue the appeal until the end of the season and would implore all of you who have not contributed so far to consider donating to this important appeal.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everybody who has participated in this scheme and I am sure you will agree the new floodlights are a great improvement.  With regard to the gas main, a special mention for SDC, as without their help we would not have been able to resolve the problem.

We will continue the appeal until the end of the season and I would ask for your continued support to find the funds for these essential expenses which had not been budgeted for.  All contributions large or small are welcome.

Geoff Irvine

SPORTSMAN DINNER

The Goldington Road marquee will be opening its doors on Thursday 15th March for a very special sportsman dinner.

Following the success of last year's event which had former Chelsea, Tottenham, West Ham and England footballer Jimmy Greaves as the guest speaker, Bedford Blues will be welcoming Dean Richards as special guest this time around.

Richards, who played more than 300 games for Leicester Tigers and 48 times for England, will be talking about his career in the game as a player and as a coach.

Tickets for the event - which includes a four course meal, charity auction and raffle - cost £40 and are available from the club on 0871 871 1886. For more information, contact Ted Carroll on 07770 444632.

125 YEARS OF THE BLUES

Just in case you did not get the present that you really wanted this Christmas, you'll be pleased to know that copies of the 125 Years of the Blues are still available from the club shop priced at £20.

This marvellous publication provides the full and glorious history of Bedford Blues Rugby club, chronicling it's beginings in 1886 and bringing you fully up to date with all the events which have occurred over the following century and a quarter.

It is also full of facts, figures and statistics on all of you favourite Blues players from today and years gone by.

To purchase a copy of the book you can either visit the club shop during normal opening hours, or buy it at the Bedford Blues online store.

  360 Tours of All Club Facilities, Click Here...

NEXT HOME MATCH

Plymouth Albion (rearranged)

RFU Championship

11 February 2012

Kick-off 2pm

Gates open 12.00pm

Ita V Eng Live in all bars 4pm

PLEASE REMEMBER FINAL HOME LEAGUE GAME OF REGULAR SEASON

vs NOTTINGHAM ON SAT 25th FEB IS A 2pm KICK OFF

Academy Cup Game Postponed:

The Blues Academy National Colts Cup game away to Hereford on Sunday February 5th has been postponed due to a frozen pitch.

PLYMOUTH MATCH POSTPONED

Jack Frost wins the battle of Goldington Road

Despite the best effort of the board, coaches and players, the weather appears to have come out victorious as a pitch inspection at 11am on Friday morning ruled out the possibility of Saturday’s Championship fixture against Plymouth Albion taking place.  However there will still be 6 Nations Rugby on the TV's in the scrum bar all afternoon.

Earlier in the week the Goldington Road pitch was covered in the hope that the ground would be protected from the elements, but as temperatures continued to drop the decision was made by the match referee that it would not be safe for the game to go ahead.

Thankfully, there won’t be long to wait for a rearrangement as a reserve weekend had already been set aside by the RFU. The match is rescheduled for Saturday 11 February with a 2pm kick-off meaning that everyone will be able to hang around to watch the Six Nations game between England and Italy on the big screens in the ground.

Tickets for this weekend’s game will be valid for the rescheduled game, but refunds will be available from the club during the week on the return of pre-bought tickets.

 

 

MATCH REPORT V LEEDS

       

Not for the first time this season, Bedford were undone by the referees whistle as they were punished by five second half Tommy Bell penalties which saw the home side turn over a 6-11 half time deficit.

 

The Blues were pinged time and time again for offside after the interval and Bell, who missed just one kick all afternoon, punished the Bedford team for their lack of discipline at the breakdown.

 

Overall though, Bedford will be left extremely disappointed with the outcome of the game especially as Leeds didn’t offer too much in the way of attack and rarely threatened the Bedford try line in the whole 80 minutes.

 

Bell kicked the opening penalty in the fifth minute of the game which had been delayed slightly due to travel issues. James Pritchard fired a penalty in reply three minutes later and then Jake Sharp struck a fine effort from just inside the Leeds half to give Bedford the lead.

 

Sharp had a similar effort in the 22nd minute, but this time his effort didn’t have the legs, but the Blues scored the only try of the game soon after. The pack put in a fine effort and drove the ball upfield before Stefan Liebenberg broke along the blind side and passed to Josh Bassett who found Ian Vass – just – to dot down. Sharp struck the post with his conversion, but Bell slotted a penalty in the 32nd minute to make the score 6-11 at the break.

 

Pritchard opened the second half scoring for Bedford with a 45th minute penalty, but then the referees arm kept being raised in Leeds direction. Bell did the damage in the 50th, 54th, 61st, 65th and 69th minutes and although Pritchard pulled a penalty back for Bedford in the 67th, it wasn’t enough as Carnegie held on for the win.

ACADEMY UPDATE

Blues lose to Saints	see here
Blues draw with Midlands	see here
Blues put 10 tries past Moseley	see here