Bedford Blues sealed a sensational runner-up spot in Champ Rugby on Saturday (2 May), battling to a 30-28 victory over Chinnor, confirming a home play-off semi-final in English rugby’s second tier.
A brace of tries from Fred Tuilagi, a customary score for Dean Adamson, plus 15 points for Will Maisey were just enough in front of an impressive attendance of 3,402 at Goldington Road, sending Mike Rayer’s side into another play-off campaign.
The Blues came into the penultimate round of regular Champ Rugby fixtures knowing a maximum point win would guarantee a home play-off semi-final, but in their way stood the division’s surprise package in Chinnor.
Since promotion to the second tier in 2024, Chinnor have surpassed all expectations and have placed themselves firmly in the play-off hunt, beginning the day in fifth after 15 league wins this campaign.
Indeed, the Blues have lost twice against Chinnor in Oxfordshire in the previous two seasons, including January’s muddy defeat which ended a ten-game unbeaten run.
Read: Bedford Blues lose ten game unbeaten run at in-form Chinnor
There were no such problems on Saturday, as Mike Rayer’s men battled to a four-try triumph at Goldington Road.
Bedford edge tight first half
After both sides exchanged kicks and penalties in the opening moments, it was Chinnor who opened the scoring after seven minutes.
A third attacking lineout came to fruition for the visitors, as the ball worked its way centre field and into the arms of James Bourton who evaded a pair of tackles to bundle over, with Nathan Chamberlain’s conversion taking them to a 7-0 advantage.
After a somewhat tepid beginning from the Blues, they were able to find the accelerator pedal by the 11-minute mark, as an attacking lineout of their own fell into the hands of Fred Tuilagi, who crashed over the leveller on his 50th appearance for the club.
Three minutes later, the Blues were ahead in the blink of an eye, as a line out on the right wing was rapidly thrown out to the left, and once it found Dean Adamson, only one outcome seemed likely.
The winger was aided by his own chip bouncing kindly into his welcoming arms, touching down the simplest of scores to put Bedford into a 12-7 lead.
The spurts of attacking prowess were replaced with a mixture of kick tennis and handbags as the bulk of the first half progressed, although the defence that has served the Blues so well of late were once again asked to work hard in the face of Chinnor possession.
It led to an attritional second quarter, with very little action by either try line, but Bedford were able to extend their lead on the 35-minute mark as Will Maisey slotted home a penalty from a central position.
Chinnor’s best chance of doubling their try count before the half-time whistle came in the dying moments, but in similar fashion to the Cornish Pirates clash a month ago; Kai Owen failed to tap a tap and go penalty, scuppering their chances, and leaving the Blues 15-7 in front.
Tuilagi pounces
The second half began in extraordinary fashion.
Just 30 seconds from the first whistle, Tuilagi intercepted a stray pass on the Chinnor ten-metre line, and was able to find the legs to take him over the whitewash to extend the Bedford lead to 22-7.
The early stages went from bad to worse for Chinnor, who saw Thomas Watson sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on, although opposite number, Lucas Titherington joined him on the sidelines with both teams temporarily down to 14 men.
However, despite their chaotic beginning to the second period, Nick Easter’s men continued to pepper the Bedford try line, with the returning Watson eventually running home a simple score, reducing the deficit to 22-14.
Again, the Blues hit back instantaneously.
The build-up was a touch more patient this time, but the end result was the same as Will Maisey found himself as the spare man on the right wing, securing the all-important bonus point score.
With four tries and the extra point in the basket, the Blues’ focus turned to securing the win, and they put themselves over two scores ahead with a second Maisey penalty with ten minutes to go.
Not that Chinnor were defeated.
They continued to press, with the promise of a pair of bonus points, and club captain Luke Carter put them halfway there with a try and conversion to reduce the deficit to nine, but with just four minutes remaining.
Their deserved moment came with the final play of the game; a stunning reverse pass from Alun Walker finding Watson who ran on to his own chip to dot down in the corner, and gain two bonus points that could be massive in their own play-off hunt.
Ealing await ahead of crunch time
For the Blues, their regular season comes to an end at Ealing next Saturday (9 May); a side who will be desperate to complete a perfect 100% campaign after they triumphed against Worcester Warriors on Saturday.
Both Worcester and Coventry – who lost at Cornish Pirates – are guaranteed a home quarter-final, but the real battle is in behind, as Chinnor in fifth lead Hartpury by a single point, while the Pirates are still in with a chance of grabbing a play-off spot at the last.
Elsewhere, Hartpury thrashed Cambridge 70-14, while there were also victories for Richmond, Doncaster Knights and Nottingham against London Scottish, Caldy and Ampthill respectively.
Bedford Blues’ semi-final will take place at Goldington Road on Friday 22 May, as they aim for a tantalising Champ Rugby play-off final the following weekend.
