1st XV News

Bedford Blues’ annual Fireworks extravaganza will be held on Friday 7th November at the Goldington Road site with gates opening at 6pm for an action packed, fun filled evening of entertainment, sponsored by Progress Skoda.

As well as the gates opening, the much anticipated funfair and Club bars will be open from 6pm leaving plenty of time to take a wander around the ground and soak up the family atmosphere at this traditional town event before the first display starts at 7pm. The children’s display is the perfect winter warmer for kids of all ages, ahead of the main event.

Bedford Blues have today welcomed the decision of the British & Irish Cup Organising Committee to award them the result of the opening pool game against Cornish Pirates following a breach of the rules.
 
During the game on Sunday 12th October at the Mennaye Field, one of the Cornish Pirates props suffered an unfortunate injury and could no longer compete in the game. As the Pirates had already used their allocated front row replacements, this meant that the game had to revert to uncontested scrums and the home side would have to withdraw a player and resume the game with 14 men.

For a second week in a row, Bedford Blues were undone by a last minute converted try to lose in the British & Irish Cup by a solitary point, this time to Welsh Principality side Cross Keys who won 22-23 on Ladies Day at Goldington Road.

The result was even more disappointing as the Blues were leading 19-3 after 16 minutes thanks to tries from Dean Adamson, James Pritchard and Nick Fenton-Wells, but the visitors from Wales fought back and kept on going until their skipper Leon Andrews crossed over the line two minutes into stoppage time before Dorian Jones coolly converted to seal the victory.

Just one week on from their agonising British and Irish Cup opening round defeat against Cornish Pirates the Blues are looking to bounce straight back as they welcome Welsh Principality side Cross Keys to Goldington Road tomorrow afternoon for what is also the annual Ladies Day game.

Bedford have enjoyed some cracking encounters against Welsh sides in this competition and Saturday will be no exception with the added spice of former Cross Keys man Steffan Jones now turning out for the Blues.

Ladies Day returns to Goldington Road this Saturday as Bedford Blues prepare to take on Welsh qualifiers Cross Keys in their first home match of the British and Irish Cup with 2 for 1 entry for all ladies on the day.

A reminder that gates open at 12 noon leaving plenty of time to take full advantage of the complimentary rosé and canapés available for all ladies on arrival to the marquee before 2:30pm (while stocks last).

Bedford Blues are delighted to announce that ‘£3 Happy Hours’ will continue this Saturday at the home match against Cross Keys on Ladies Day in the upstairs Eagle Bar.

To ensure the gentlemen at Ladies Day aren’t left out, Wells Eagle IPA, McEwan’s Lager, Young’s London Stout, Wells Eagle Smooth and Somersby Cider will all be available at just £3 a pint from 12 noon until 14:30 and again at 17:00 until 20:00. This offer will only be available upstairs in the Eagle Bar, with a saving of nearly £1 on most pump beers so don’t miss out!

Following Bedford Blues’ success against Jersey last time out, Chairman Geoff Irvine has urged the rugby community to continue showing their support for the town’s club by keeping the attendance figures up and proving what the Blues means to the region.

The Blues Chairman, who is due to stand down in May 2016, said: “I would like to thank everyone who attended the first home victory of the season last Saturday despite the bad weather pre-match and helped make Goldington Road a fortress.

Bedford suffered late heartbreak in their opening British & Irish Cup match as a last gasp conversion by former Blue Kieran Hallett saw Cornish Pirates edge a thrilling contest, 35-34.

Mike Rayer's men travelled to Penzance on the back of two Championship victories and must surely have thought they had extended their winning run when Steffan Jones crossed for his second try which put them into the lead after 73 minutes.

They couldn't hold out though and had to make do with both a try and losing bonus point at The Mennaye after Jim Wigglesworth, Pat Tapley, Villiami Hakalo and Dean Adamson had also crossed the whitewash for the visitors.

Bedford Blues are delighted to announce that captain Nick Fenton-Wells and hooker Charlie Clare have been selected in the Championship XV squad to face Canada at Sixways Stadium on Sunday 2nd November.

Skipper Fenton-Wells joined the Blues permanently this season following a successful two-year loan period from Saracens and was announced as captain for the 2014/15 season having made an enormous impression in his time at Goldington Road.

Bedford Blues will be making the full use of their squad as they make the long trip down to Penzance to face Cornish Pirates in the British & Irish Cup this weekend.

The Blues have been buoyed on by two league wins on the trot against Jersey and Plymouth Albion while a strong second half display against London Scottish acted as the catalyst for the recent turn of fortunes on the field.

Games against the Pirates in Cornwall are never easy and Blues Team Manager Rob Crowle is expecting another bruising battle on Sunday afternoon.