Bedford Blues’ Champ Rugby opener ended in defeat as they lost comfortably at the home of reigning champions, Worcester Warriors on Saturday (19 September).
Worcester ran in six tries in a convincing 40-5 victory over the Blues, who only managed to get on the board in the 72nd minute thanks to a consolation for Lucas Titherington.
The first of 26 regular season fixtures provided what will be one of the toughest assignments of the campaign for Mike Rayer’s side, who would have been looking to exact some revenge for last season’s play-off final defeat against the same opponents.
But from as early as the fifth minute, the Blues were on the back foot as the Warriors controlled the vast majority of the 80 minutes at the Sixways Stadium.
Austin Wallis scored the first of an eventual brace, touching down off the back of a rolling maul, with Will Reed adding the extras as the hosts led 7-0 after five minutes.
And it was Wallis who would score the second try of the opening period, again off the back of a maul, although an attritional first half ended on a flashpoint caused by a heavy tackle by Will Trewin on Louis James.
James had spilled a pass from Alex Day, and was dump tackled for his troubles, causing some unsavoury scenes, but the scoreboard remained untroubled for the rest of the half, with Worcester leading 12-0 at the break.
Worcester race clear
The half-time scoreline felt retrievable for a Blues side who had turned to put boot to ball a touch too often in the first half, but by the hour mark, Worcester had wrapped up proceedings with two further scores.
Six minutes into the second half, the ball was worked out wide after a vast number of phases, allowing Louis Brown to dot down the hosts’ third try of the afternoon.
A pair of opportunities to get on the board for the Blues fell by the wayside; the first of which was held up before a lineout was stolen and on the hour mark, Worcester rubbed salt in the wounds with a fourth try.
Trewin was the man to score it, but Champ Rugby’s new rules meant it didn’t secure a bonus point, with the Blues finally breaking their duck with a try eight minutes from time for Lucas Titherington.
Another score would have denied Worcester their bonus point, but it was never to arrive as Worcester opened up the try tally to six with two late scores that would earn their extras.
Hallam Chapman scored the fifth with 78 minutes on the clock, before Alex Woolford was sin binned for Bedford as the clock ticked into the red, with Chapman scoring again with the final play to secure a comfortable victory for Worcester.
Their five points leave them top of the table, alongside victories for Nottingham, Hartpury and Champ new boys, Rotherham Titans in the fixtures played so far.
Nottingham beat Blackheath on Friday night, while Hartpury squeezed past Caldy 42-40 at Paton Field, but the surprise result was Rotherham Titans’ 38-35 victory against Coventry at Clifton Lane.
Ealing are the only other side on five points after Saturday’s opening fixtures, beating Chinnor 43-26, while Ampthill won another narrow contest 42-40 at Richmond in Saturday’s late kick offs.
Cornish Pirates play Doncaster Knights on Sunday.
The Blues’ first home game takes place next weekend as Chinnor visit Goldington Road on Saturday (26 September).
