The sixth and final pool game of the Championship Cup may not end in qualification for Mike Rayer’s men but tomorrow’s clash with Doncaster Knights provides an opportunity to lay down a marker in the first of two encounters between the sides inside a fortnight.
The Blues host the Knights under the Friday night lights on 3rd March, but will be keen to prolong their ever-growing home record with victory on Saturday with the Knights currently top of Pool Two and looking to secure a route to the semi-finals.
With Coventry hosting London Scottish, Steve Boden’s side may well need to be the first side to win at Goldington Road this season to get through to the last four but will be up against a refreshed Blues side who boast 11 changes from last week’s defeat at Butts Park Arena.
Maisey returns
After a well-deserved rest from the starting XV throughout the second half of the cup campaign, Will Maisey returns to the starting line-up to reignite a left boot that has seen him rocket to the top of the Championship’s scoring charts.
Michael Le Bourgeois and George Hendy are two other new faces in from the off tomorrow amongst eleven changes in all made by Mike Rayer.
While the Championship Cup is still within sight of the Knights, their moods will have been buoyed this week after confirmation from the RFU that their home ground, Castle Park met the minimum standards criteria for promotion.
“Doncaster Knights have satisfied the Minimum Standards Criteria and are eligible for promotion to the Premiership at the end of season 2022/23”, said the RFU in a statement on Tuesday.
“Castle Park has a licensed capacity of over 5,000, with planning permission to extend beyond 10,000. The club has also provided detailed information regarding the safety assurance process to be undertaken by their local authority.”
However, with Doncaster Knights sitting in fifth in the league table – a whole 22 points behind second-placed Jersey Reds – the chances they will achieve promotion by sporting means this season are slim.
The other side to apply for promotion, league leaders Ealing Trailfinders, had their application rejected.
McCarthy banned
Meanwhile, Blues’ forward coach, Sean McCarthy has been banned from Bedford Blues games for three weeks after a single-manned RFU panel upheld a charge in relation to “conduct prejudicial to the interests of the Union and the game”.
The ban will be reduced to two weeks and one week suspended should the former Blues captain “complete a presentation” to the Blues’ junior teams before the third weekend of the ban.
McCarthy was shown a red card by the referee shortly before half-time of last week’s 33-24 cup loss at Coventry and will miss both games against Doncaster Knights as well as the trip to Hartpury on 10th March.
Bedford Blues Starting XV:
15. George Hendy, 14. Matt Worley, 13. Tom Litchfield, 12. Michael Le Bourgeois, 11. Seàn French, 10. Will Maisey, 9. Alex Day (C); 1. Joey Conway, 2. Jack Hughes, 3. Ehren Painter, 4. Robin Williams, 5. Tom Lockett, 6. Jac Arthur, 7. Charles Rylands, 8. Tui Uru
Bedford Blues Replacements:
16. Aston Gradwick-Light, 17. Monty Royston, 18. Corrie Barrett, 19. Luke Frost, 20. Kayde Sylvester, 21. Jake Garside, 22. Louis Grimoldby, 23. Jamie Elliott
