March 2016

British & Irish Cup action returns to Goldington Road on Friday night as Bedford Blues play host to Jersey in the Quarter-Final of the competition.
 
While the Islanders have two victories over the Blues in the Greene King IPA Championship, Bedford have been in superb form in the cup with the only blot on the page being an away loss to Bristol in the Pool stage.
 
Bedford make two changes in the backs to the team that came from behind to beat Ealing Trailfinders in the league last weekend with Jordan Burns and Jake Sharp starting at scrum half and fly half respectively while Sam James, James Currie and Paul Tupai all start in the pack.
 

Bedford Blues fullback Piers O'Conor has been nominated for The Greene King IPA Championship Player of the Month for February and he needs your vote to take the title.

O’Conor has proven to be a revelation for the Blues during their march back to the top four of the Championship table. After playing for England in the World Rugby U20 Championship final last June, O’Conor has kept the likes of club stalwarts James Pritchard and Steffan Jones out of the club’s fullback shirt. Already touching down seven times this season including against Ealing Trailfinders at the weekend, his electrifying pace suggests he’ll have plenty more to add to that tally before the campaign concludes.

After a strong start the Blues Academy went in at half time 12 pts all, before allowing Ealing in to the game in a mistake ridden 2nd half, to see Ealing win by 22pts – 12.

Bedford started well showing strong running and good support play.  With the Blues pack on top they were first to score when, from a tap penalty, hooker Charlie Robinson drove over from close range.  Ealing responded straight from the kick off.  They won a lineout on the Blues 22, and the Ealing scrum half made 20 metres before he was stopped. 

With the Blues first team at home to Ealing Trailfinders at Goldington Road, the Blues Academy U19s travel to take on the Ealing Academy U20 side on the same day in the capital.

With a number of players out due to injury, the Blues make six changes to the starting line-up that played Loughborough University in their last game. 

In the pack Ben Thompson starts at prop, Reuben Pritchard starts at flanker with Charley Harvey and Mozez Gunda returning from injury in the second row and at No.8 respectively.  In the back line Max McMinn starts at fly half and Paul Aguele returns at centre.