Bedford Blues return to Championship action this Saturday (12 April) in another big weekend of sport in the town, as they welcome Nottingham to Goldington Road looking to kickstart the business end of their campaign.
Mike Rayer’s side have won just one of their three Championship fixtures since the restart – a 45-24 victory at home to Cornish Pirates – and they’ll be hoping their home form holds amidst back-to-back away defeats at Hartpury and Doncaster.
Both sides like to play attacking rugby, in a fixture often cited as ‘The Battle of the Joué’, and this clash last season saw seven Bedford Blues tries in an entertaining 49-24 victory that included a score for a certain Henry Pollock, who has gone on to make headlines in his full England debut.
The same could not be said for the reverse fixture this campaign in November; a scrappy and gritty encounter saw the Blues bring a 17-10 victory back to Bedford thanks to a 60-yard run in for the winning try from March’s player of the month, Louis James.
Read: Bedford Blues go second in the Championship with battling win against Nottingham
That second place is a position the Blues gave up last weekend, as Coventry once again assumed the runner-up spot, and in order to resume it, Rayer and company will be looking for a favour from Bedfordshire rivals, Ampthill who travel to the Butts Park Arena.
With seven league fixtures to go, including this one, every point counts in the pursuit of a special second place in the Championship before the division expands to fourteen teams.
200th appearance for Adamson
Dean Adamson, still pursuing the Bedford Blues’ all-time try scoring record, will lead the team out at Goldington Road on his 200th appearance for the club on what is a special occasion for the winger.
Elsewhere, there are five changes to the starting line-up with four of them coming in the pack.
Joey Conway and Tommy Herman are back in the front row alongside the almost ever-present, Oisin Heffernan while Luke Frost and Rory Ward are included from the start in the absence of Alex Woolford and Jac Arthur.
Matt Worley also returns to the right wing in place of Alfie Garside, who saw red at last weekend’s defeat at Castle Park.
Bedford Blues vs Nottingham kicks off at 3pm on Saturday 12 April at Goldington Road.
Tickets can be bought on the gate, or with a small discount when bought in advance here.
Bedford Blues Starting XV:
15. Louis James, 14. Matt Worley, 13. Lucas Titherington, 12. Michael Le Bourgeois, 11. Dean Adamson, 10. Will Maisey, 9. Alex Day (C); 1. Joey Conway, 2. Tommy Herman, 3. Oisin Heffernan, 4. Ed Prowse, 5. Rory Ward, 6. Luke Frost, 7. Joe Howard, 8. Fred Tuilagi
Bedford Blues Replacements:
16. James Fish, 17. Jamie Jack, 18. Beltus Nonleh, 19. Shay Kerry, 20. Fyn Brown, 21. Jake Garside, 22. Alfie Garside, 23. Toby Cousins
