Post by Jamie Crawford on Apr 29, 2024 9:58:41 GMT
Bedford Blues preview
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Round 20, Saturday 4th May, Goldington Road, Bedford. KO 3pm
Bedford Blues in fourth welcome fifth-placed Doncaster Knights to Goldington Road. All teams have had a weekend off Championship action, so the Knights have had chance to look at what they did wrong against Ampthill Saracens. So dubbed because 8 duel registered Saracen players started with 7 Ampthill players.
Last time out the Blues were soundly beaten 54-19 away at Butts Park Arena against Coventry. It was level at half time 12-12 but “a kamikaze 17 minutes to open the second half saw Coventry run in 28 unanswered points” (Blues' website). Cov scored 8 tries but Bedford managed to score 3. Bedford fly half Louis Grimoldby, prop Joey Conway and substitute scrum half James Lennon touched down for the Blues.
The Knights have lessons to learn after being beaten 49-9 at Dillingham Park by Ampthill plus duel registered Saracens. Their only points were scored off the boot of Russell Bennett.
The Knights were the 25-20 winners when the teams met at Castle Park on 20th January. It was a game that the Blues thought they should have won but Mike Rayer, their Director of Rugby blamed their slow starts to both halves as the main reason for their loss. The Blues still managed to return to Bedford with 2 league points for their efforts: 1 for scoring 4 tries and 1 for finishing the game within 7 points. Blues’ hooker James Fish scored a brace of tries plus back three Seán French and substitute scrum-half James Lennon scored 1 each.
Mike Rayer and his team will be looking to settle the score on Saturday.
Bedford are currently the third highest points-scorers in the Championship, they have scored 66 more points than the Knights (almost 4/game). Only 2 points separate each team's defence. They are also the third highest try-scorers and have scored 16 more tries than the Knights (almost a try/game). Defensively the Knights have conceded just 4 more tries over 17 games.
Seán French is the second highest try-scorer in the Championship, Blues winger Dean Adamson is equal third after scoring a try fewer. 15 tries have been scored by these two players, so the Knights need to be wary of the ball being played out wide to the wingers or full back, who comes into the line whilst attacking, typically inside or outside the winger.
Championship games taking place this weekend.
Friday 3rd May
Nottingham (8) v Cornish Pirates (3)
Coventry (2) v London Scottish (9)
Saturday 4th May
Bedford Blues (4) v Doncaster Knights (5)
Ealing Trailfinders (1) v Ampthill (6)
Hartpury University (7) v Caldy (10)
Cambridge RFC (11) were due to welcome Jersey Reds.
A Knight W would see us leapfrog Bedford into 4th.
A Knight L would see Ampthill leapfrog us, so we drop to 6th if they beat Ealing.
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
sponsored by Twenty Four IT Services (www.twentyfourit.co.uk)
Round 20, Saturday 4th May, Goldington Road, Bedford. KO 3pm
Bedford Blues in fourth welcome fifth-placed Doncaster Knights to Goldington Road. All teams have had a weekend off Championship action, so the Knights have had chance to look at what they did wrong against Ampthill Saracens. So dubbed because 8 duel registered Saracen players started with 7 Ampthill players.
Last time out the Blues were soundly beaten 54-19 away at Butts Park Arena against Coventry. It was level at half time 12-12 but “a kamikaze 17 minutes to open the second half saw Coventry run in 28 unanswered points” (Blues' website). Cov scored 8 tries but Bedford managed to score 3. Bedford fly half Louis Grimoldby, prop Joey Conway and substitute scrum half James Lennon touched down for the Blues.
The Knights have lessons to learn after being beaten 49-9 at Dillingham Park by Ampthill plus duel registered Saracens. Their only points were scored off the boot of Russell Bennett.
The Knights were the 25-20 winners when the teams met at Castle Park on 20th January. It was a game that the Blues thought they should have won but Mike Rayer, their Director of Rugby blamed their slow starts to both halves as the main reason for their loss. The Blues still managed to return to Bedford with 2 league points for their efforts: 1 for scoring 4 tries and 1 for finishing the game within 7 points. Blues’ hooker James Fish scored a brace of tries plus back three Seán French and substitute scrum-half James Lennon scored 1 each.
Mike Rayer and his team will be looking to settle the score on Saturday.
Bedford are currently the third highest points-scorers in the Championship, they have scored 66 more points than the Knights (almost 4/game). Only 2 points separate each team's defence. They are also the third highest try-scorers and have scored 16 more tries than the Knights (almost a try/game). Defensively the Knights have conceded just 4 more tries over 17 games.
Seán French is the second highest try-scorer in the Championship, Blues winger Dean Adamson is equal third after scoring a try fewer. 15 tries have been scored by these two players, so the Knights need to be wary of the ball being played out wide to the wingers or full back, who comes into the line whilst attacking, typically inside or outside the winger.
Championship games taking place this weekend.
Friday 3rd May
Nottingham (8) v Cornish Pirates (3)
Coventry (2) v London Scottish (9)
Saturday 4th May
Bedford Blues (4) v Doncaster Knights (5)
Ealing Trailfinders (1) v Ampthill (6)
Hartpury University (7) v Caldy (10)
Cambridge RFC (11) were due to welcome Jersey Reds.
A Knight W would see us leapfrog Bedford into 4th.
A Knight L would see Ampthill leapfrog us, so we drop to 6th if they beat Ealing.
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
