Bedford Blues are back in action after a well-earned week of rest, looking to cement second place in the Championship table as they welcome London Scottish to Goldington Road on Saturday (3 May) in a rare double header in aid of the Blues Foundation.
Following the Men will be the Blues Women who step out on to the slope for the final time this season as they host a Hertfordshire side, (5:45pm kick off) and with a host of other activity going on, it promises to be an excellent day of rugby union at the home of the Blues.
Confidence in the Bedford camp could not be higher.
After Mike Rayer’s men demolished Nottingham in their last encounter at Goldington Road, they backed it up by seeing off league leaders, Ealing in West London to hold the chasing pack for second place at bay.
Read: Bedford Blues hold off late Ealing surge to seal famous win
There are five Championship fixtures remaining, and the Blues face all of the bottom five throughout May, beginning with ninth-placed Scottish on Saturday.
On paper at least, the Blues have seen off their biggest challenges, although any outside dreams of a dramatic league title still feel too far a step, despite the fact that Ealing still have to face third-placed, Hartpury and an always dangerous, Coventry in their final two fixtures.
However, focus will be looking no further than London Scottish who travel to Goldington Road off the back of consecutive defeats, including against Ampthill a fortnight ago.
There’s also the small matter of a try-scoring record at Goldington Road as new Dad, Dean Adamson could cap the perfect week with the score that will see him create history as Bedford Blues’ leading try scorer.
Bedford Blues Women, who finished their first season at NC1 East in fourth place, are on the Goldington Road turf straight after as Eddie Rennell’s team look to complete their campaign on a high.
Front row switch
In what is becoming a consistent number of starting line-up changes, Mike Rayer makes all three to the front row with a rare start for Northampton Saints’ loanee, Beltus Nonleh.
Nonleh scrums down alongside James Fish and Jamie Jack in all-new front row with Conway, Herman and Heffernan all dropping to the bench.
The rest of the line-up remains the same as the Ealing trip as the Blues hope to keep up the consistency needed to retain second place with a group of strong teams in behind them.
Tickets for the whole day are available to purchase via the Bedford Blues website here.
Bedford Blues host London Scottish with a 3pm kick off, while the Women’s game against Hertfordshire follows at 5.45pm at Goldington Road.
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. Jamie Jack, 2. James Fish, 3. Beltus Nonleh, 4. Luke Frost, 5. Rory Ward, 6. Fyn Brown, 7. Joe Howard, 8. Fred Tuilagi
Bedford Blues Replacements:
16. Tommy Herman, 17. Joey Conway, 18. Oisin Heffernan, 19. Shay Kerry, 20. Archie Benson, 21. James Lennon, 22. Matt Worley, 23. Joel Matavesi
