By the time Bedford Blues step out on to the pitch of Lady Bay on Friday, it’ll have been just six days since their mammoth Premiership Cup effort against Bath at Goldington Road, but a quick reset is needed as Championship action resumes on Friday night (29 November).
The Blues will need to be on their game if they’re to keep the pace at the top, with just Ealing Trailfinders and Coventry above them and in good form as Bedford go on the hunt for their fifth league victory in six games.
Read: Bedford Blues fall short of massive Bath upset at Goldington Road
Nottingham too have had a decent start, including an impressive 30-14 win at Doncaster’s Castle Park, although Craig Hammond’s side may be a touch fragile after shipping 70 points at home against Leicester Tigers in the cup last weekend.
However, the return of “the bread and butter” as the RFU Championship social media pages describe it, provide an opportunity for Bedford Blues to continue their assault towards the top of the division.
A win here would set them up nicely for the rest of the calendar year. A home game against Ealing is next, but before the year is out, Mike Rayer’s side are due to face London Scottish, Chinnor and Cambridge.
On paper at least, the fixture list has been kind, so a win at Lady Bay is imperative to keep up momentum.
Return of the Booj
The Blues have settled on a consistent back line in recent weeks, but there is one change this time as Michael Le Bourgeois returns to inside centre in place of Joel Matavesi.
The other four changes in the starting line-up come in the pack, as Nathan Langdon comes in at hooker alongside the returning Oisin Heffernan, with Joey Conway the only survivor on the front row from the Bath clash.
Will Spencer joins on a short-term loan from Northampton Saints and slots straight into the second row while Luke Frost, formerly of Nottingham, is the final change in the number six jersey.
Once again, the Bedford Rugby Followers Association are providing discounted travel to the Midlands; a spot on the Followers’ coach is just £10 while tickets for the encounter can be purchased either on the gate or via the Nottingham Rugby website.
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. Nathan Langdon, 3. Oisin Heffernan, 4. Rory Ward, 5. Will Spencer, 6. Luke Frost, 7. Fyn Brown, 8. Joe Howard
Bedford Blues Replacements:
16. Tommy Herman, 17. Jamie Jack, 18. Beltus Nonleh, 19. Shay Kerry, 20. Cameron King, 21. Jac Arthur, 22. James Lennon, 23. George Makepeace-Cubitt
