Northampton Saints scored six tries to Bedford Blues’ four as the European finalists claimed a 40-28 triumph in the 104th playing of the Mobbs Memorial match at Goldington Road on Friday night (5 September).
The Blues had won nine consecutive games, dating back to April 2025, but came unstuck against a Saints side who were missing key players, but still had enough quality to defeat their second tier opponents under the Friday night floodlights.
The 104th Mobbs Memorial match was led by a touching tribute to Lieutenant Colonel Edgar Mobbs, with both captains laying wreaths amidst a perfectly observed silence from 4,915 fans inside Goldington Road.
Premiership club, Saints were without a lot of their premium stars, but still boasted an excellent line-up that included French international, Anthony Belleau at fly half and a welcome return for number eight, Sam Graham after an injury lay-off of eleven months.
For the Blues, it was a similar line-up to last week’s impressive victory in Penzance, although Tom Price was afforded a shirt from the beginning in the absence of regular fly half, Will Maisey, while Tui Uru began in the unfamiliar six jersey.
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Despite a bright start for Bedford, it was Northampton who scored first as full-back, James Pater broke through a gap to slide in towards the posts for the encounter’s first try in an otherwise first quarter hour played almost exclusively in Saints territory.
The home side were unable to capitalise, and it was the Saints who doubled their lead with merely their second attack.
An away lineout on the five-metre line went awry but the bounce of the ball fell kindly for Toby Thame, who collected with ease and bounded through an unlucky Blues defence to set up a second simple conversion for new signing, Belleau.
Blues get deserved scores
Bedford’s start was full of positives despite the early 0-14 scoreline, with the back line gaining a lot of touches and the line out, solid, but it was an unlikely source who halved the deficit, as Rory Ward scored the Blues’ first try of the night.
Louis James’ grubber almost allowed Dean Adamson to race on to a second shortly after, only for James’ opposite number, Pater to get across and boot it out as the Blues went searching for an equaliser, which duly arrived on 27 minutes.
It once again came from a good lineout, collected by Alex Woolford and eventually touched down by Oisin Heffernan, and with new boy, Price slotting the conversion, the Blues were all square.
However, the Saints went into the break with the lead courtesy of a second for Pater after a move began by a touch penalty from prop, Oliver Scola, leaving Northampton Saints 21-14 ahead at half-time.
The second half remained evenly matched, but the professionalism of the Saints shone through as they battled their way to an eventual victory.
The early moments of the second half were punctured at best, epitomised by Adamson scrapping with twelve-capped international, Belleau out of view of the officials but within moments of that coming together, the visitors had extended their lead.
It was a move led by former Bedford School man, Jonny Weimann – on as a replacement scrum-half at the break – and finished in ugly fashion by Angus Scott-Young, but the Blues hit back almost immediately thanks to Ryan Hutler’s second try in as many games on the far side.
It was a true blunder that helped the Saints extend their advantage; a loose offload from a blue shirt fell into the grateful hands of Siep Walta who had the freedom of Bedford to run in the fifth try and open up a 12-point window for Northampton to defend.
Blues get within five
The Blues set about trying to cut the gap again; a key tap tackle from Weimann denying a flying Adamson down the left wing, before two injury stoppages hampered proceedings on the hour mark.
It wasn’t long before the deficit was reduced to five as an impressive break away from Joe Hill ended up in the hands of Louis James to dive over the imaginary bonus point try, but the Saints continued to keep their second tier opponents at arms length.
This time it was James Martin who could take the plaudits, as his excellent pick up allowed him the chance to run forty metres deep into enemy territory before he was tackled by James, with Henry Lumley picking up the pieces to score.
Bedford ended the clash as they’d started it; deep inside the Northampton 22, but they were unable to eat into the Premiership side’s lead further and had to settle for four tries.
Lumley’s try would be the final score of an engrossing second half of rugby that left the Saints with a 40-28 victory, although once again, there can be many positives taken by Mike Rayer and his coaching setup.
Ahead of the largest ever second tier championship in history, the Blues look to be building up to a bone-crunching campaign in good fashion, ahead of their final pre-season game against local rivals, Ampthill in a little over a fortnight’s time.
That clash takes place at Goldington Road on 20 September, before Bedford host reigning champions, Ealing Trailfinders on 4 October in the first competitive league game of the new season.
