Thursday night was a special occasion at Goldington Road as Bedford Blues played host to the British Army in the annual Mobbs Memorial match.
Lt Colonel Edgar Robert Mobbs was born in Northampton in 1882 and was killed in action at Passchendaele in 1917. His memorial game was first staged in 1921, and has been an almost annual fixture since 1924.
Mobbs was the first man to score a try in an England vs Australia international and scored 177 tries in a six-year period for Northampton (Saints) RFC as well as captaining England and the Barbarians.
After the pre-match parade, provided by the Biggleswade Sea Cadet band, the main event got underway and it was Bedford Blues who prevailed; scoring six tries in a 38-10 victory against the Army.
Any sense of it being a “friendly” were quickly swept away under the floodlights as both sides set about competing in what was a combative and hard-fought affair in front of over 1,600 fans at Goldington Road.
It was the Army who took the lead after ten minutes thanks to GNR Nayalo, who plays his rugby for Coventry but the Blues hit back almost immediately thanks to a first try in Blues colours for Corrie Barrett.
In a rare low-scoring first half at Goldington Road, both sides struggled to find their feet but it was the Army who restored their lead on the half hour mark thanks to SGT Connor O’Reilly who darted through a Blues gap to dot down.
Once again, the Blues hit back courtesy of young Northampton Saints star, Frankie Sleightholme and it was a lead Bedford would never surrender.
A third Blues try, courtesy of the in form Seán French opened up a nine point advantage at half-time and a further try from Callum Burns shortly into the second half consolidated the Bedford advantage.
Young Saints stars show their worth
It was a fitting night for the future of Northampton Saints to strut their stuff, and after Sleightholme’s first half try, Toby Cousins was also on the score sheet with arguably the try of the night.
Cousins ran in from sixty metres out, through three challenges to dive home and score Bedford’s fifth after Callum Burns scored what would have been the bonus point on a normal rugby occasion.
This was no normal occasion however, as the local rugby community came out in force to remember Mobbs and take a moment to recognise the selfless contributions made by all in the Armed Forces.
Callum Burns’ second try of the night sealed a comfortable 38-10 victory for the Blues on another memorable night at Goldington Road, and although there were a couple of yellow cards thrown in, the occasion was generally well-mannered and brought the best out of rugby.
Bedford Blues are back in league action next Saturday afternoon, looking to bounce back from an agonising 40-31 defeat at home to league leaders Ealing as they welcome Jersey Reds to Goldington Road.
While their iconic home league record has now gone, Mike Rayer will hope his squad can fire and stop Jersey Reds in their tracks as the Islanders chase what would be a memorable league title.
