Bedford Blues remain second in the Championship, and add another famous victory to their wonderful season, after withstanding a barrage of late pressure to beat league leaders, Ealing Trailfinders 30-24 in the capital.
The Blues also pick up a bonus point for their four tries, including a double for the returning Fyn Brown while Fred Tuilagi and captain, Alex Day also found the whitewash to complete another excellent day for all in blue.
Only Doncaster Knights have beaten Ealing in the league this season, and the hosts started the day sixteen points clear at the top of English rugby’s second tier, signalling the challenge that Mike Rayer’s men had in front of them.
They had a slither of good form to look back on in the form of a 31-19 victory on this ground in February 2022, but Ealing begin every match in the Championship as favourites for a reason, and they are still nailed on for a third Championship title in four years.
However, the Trailfinders could not live up to the favourites tag this time, as Bedford Blues held on at the end for another huge victory.
Big second half take Blues home
There have been many occasions where a second half fightback has paid dividends for the Blues this season, but perhaps none like the one seen at the Trailfinders Sports Club on Saturday.
When Angus Kernohan ran in the game’s first try after just 29 seconds, there seemed to be a familiar feeling in the air that Ealing were going to take no prisoners, although a pair of Will Maisey penalties settled the nerves for the travelling Blues contingent.
Tobi Wilson was on hand to restore Ealing’s advantage soon after, followed by a try for Jordy Reid to give the home side a 17-6 lead, before Fyn Brown scored the first of a brace of scores to keep Bedford in the game at half-time, trailing 17-11.
The gap was reduced to just one point in the early stages of the second period as Alex Day sprinted on to loose ball to run in Bedford’s second try before Brown was on hand again to lunge over and give the Blues a sacred lead to hold on to.
Ealing were then reduced to fourteen men as Dan Jones saw yellow, and the lead was extended to 11 when some excellent footwork from Alfie Garside allowed the winger to feed Fred Tuilagi who crashed over the bonus point score.
The final twenty minutes must have felt like an eternity for the players, and the coach load of Blues fans who made the trip to West London; made longer by the sin-binning of Lucas Titherington after the referee ran out of patience with persistent infringements.
It allowed Ealing – back up to a full complement – to mount up the pressure as Bedford built their barricade and it would take until the 73rd minute for the hosts to break through it, courtesy of Tom Collins who was the spare man on the wing as he ran into the corner.
Still, Bedford’s defence stood firm and Ealing could not break through, giving the Blues a massive 30-24 victory to keep hold of the runner-up spot in the Championship.
It was another steadfast and courageous performance from a team who have added a defensive solidity to their famous running game, leaving them two points clear of Hartpury in third place.
The Gloucestershire side are there courtesy of a 31-24 victory over Coventry, who now drop to fourth.
Cornish Pirates are now up to fifth after squeezing past Caldy, 27-24 while Doncaster Knights are in sixth after beating Chinnor 38-14 at Castle Park.
Ampthill secured back-to-back wins after seeing off London Scottish 38-19 while Nottingham host Cambridge on Sunday.
However, for the Blues, their confidence is now sky high after last week’s demolition job of Nottingham followed by grinding out a big triumph against champions-elect, Ealing on Saturday.
The Championship takes a well-earned break next weekend (26 April) before the Blues return to Goldington Road to host London Scottish on Saturday 3 May.
