Challenges don’t come much tougher than travelling to the home of Ealing; the champions elect are well on their way to a third Championship title in four years and next up are the visit of Bedford Blues on Saturday (19 April).
If ever there is a good time to visit the Trailfinders Sports Club for the Blues, it is now, for their confidence is sky high following an 87-19 demolition job last time out against Nottingham at Goldington Road.
Read: Adamson scores five tries to equal record as Bedford Blues annihilate Nottingham
Dean Adamson – in line to make his 201st appearance for Bedford Blues on Saturday – celebrated a milestone appearance and his 32nd birthday in barely believable fashion, equalling the Blues’ all-time try scoring record with five last weekend.
Just one more will take him to the top of an historic list.
Mike Rayer’s men do have some recent form to hold on to at the home of Ealing; a 31-19 victory in the capital in February 2022 was a stunning win that re-galvanised that campaign, and they’ll hope to find that same spark to see them over the line this time.
Ealing are on a three-game winning streak themselves, and Doncaster Knights are the only team to have beaten them in the league this season, but the Blues have shown they have added another element to their game, and they will want revenge for a 25-17 defeat in December.
Settled side
Mike Rayer has made only a couple of alterations to the starting line-up that ran through Nottingham last weekend, including a welcome return for Fyn Brown at blindside flanker, whilst some of the pack change positions to accommodate.
Conway, Herman and Heffernan continue in a rare unchanged front row, while Alfie Garside returns to the right wing in place of Matt Worley, who was one of five try scorers the last time the Blues won at Ealing at the beginning of 2022.
Places on the Bedford Rugby Followers Association coach are still available here, but matchday tickets are available to purchase here.
The game is also being live streamed via the Ealing Trailfinders YouTube channel. The clash kicks off at 15:00 on Saturday 19 April.
Bedford Blues Starting XV:
15. Louis James, 14. Alfie Garside, 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. Luke Frost, 5. Rory Ward, 6. Fyn Brown, 7. Joe Howard, 8. Fred Tuilagi
Bedford Blues Replacements:
16. James Fish, 17. Jamie Jack, 18. Beltus Nonleh, 19. Ed Prowse, 20. Archie Benson, 21. Jake Garside, 22. Matt Worley, 23. Toby Cousins
