Academy News

After a run of 12 wins stretching back to October, it was unlucky 13 for the Blues Academy away at Loughborough University on Saturday.  With the Blues original opponents, Loughborough University Freshers, playing England Counties U18s in a training game, the Blues faced an older students side with players mainly from the 2nd and 3rd year, who were 2 – 3 years older than the Blues squad.  The Blues took a narrow, but deserved, lead of 10pts - 8 at half time, but performance dropped off in the second half as they went down to a 32pts – 10 loss to the older students side.

The Blues Academy take on another older students side this week when they travel to play Loughborough University on Saturday.  With the Blues original opponents, Loughborough Univ Freshers, now playing England Counties U18s in a training game, the Blues will face an older students side with players mainly from the 2nd and 3rd year, who will be 2 – 3 years older than the Blues squad.

Bedford make three changes to the starting lineup that beat Moseley two weeks ago.  In the pack Hayden King returns at tight head, with Charley Robinson moving to the bench, and Zach Scott-Grey returns at No.8.  In the back line Dylan Leney starts at scrum half, with Olly Venni moving to the bench. 

Congratulations to Blues Academy centre Aaron Martin who has been selected for the England Counties U18 squad who will play in this season’s International Triangular Festival at Hartpury College in Gloucestershire between March 28 and April 4. 

The extended squad was selected after the Divisional Festival at Loughborough University last weekend and will be trimmed after a further training session at Loughborough on March 15 to produce the final squad for the festival.

Bedford Academy welcomed Moseley to Goldington Road for the first game between the sides for three years.  A younger Moseley team showed real determination and made it tough for the Blues who managed a 12–0 lead at half time before running out by 29-0 winners.

Bedford took an early lead after five minutes when a driving lineout was touched down by second row Sam Copeland.  The Blues had the chance to go further ahead 5 minutes later but failed to score from a two to one overlap. 

The Blues Academy are at home this weekend when they welcome Moseley to Goldington Road on Saturday.

The game kicks off at 2pm, admission is free, the bar is open and Six Nations rugby is on TV - all are welcome.

With a fine win against Wasps last week, and having put more than 40 points over Ealing last month, you might have thought that the scene was set for a comfortable win for the Blues against Ealing at Goldington Road.  However a combination of an Ealing side who had different ideas, and a Bedford Academy side who never hit form, resulted in the Blues going in at half time 5pts – 3 up, before an improved second half saw them work a 24pts – 10 win.

Bedford Academy travelled to play their second fixture of the season against Wasps, the RFU funded Premiership Academy, this time on the synthetic pitch at the impressive Maidenhead Rugby Club. 

With Bedford having won the first game narrowly (13–12) at Goldington Road in October, Wasps, who have hit form recently and have beaten Harlequins Academy (29–0) and Bristol Academy (38–9) in the last few weeks, were out to avenge the earlier loss. 

The Blues Academy play Wasps under floodlights at Maidenhead this Friday. Bedford make eight changes (two of them positional) to the starting line-up that beat Ealing in their last outing.

In the pack Ben Wilkinson moves from prop to hooker, with Hayden King restored to tight head; Josh Fadden returns at 2nd row, with Harry Agnew at flanker.  In the back line Chris Easton moves from fly half to scrum half, with Roddy Giles returning at fly half; Aaron Martin returns from injury in the centre, with Jack Stapley starting on the wing.

The game is at Maidenhead Rugby Club, Braywick Park, Braywick Road, Maidenhead SL6 1BN, and kicks off at 7.30 pm.

LATEST - Game cancelled by Cambridge:
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The Blues Academy are away against Cambridge U22 XV this Saturday.

Bedford make ten changes (two of them positional) to the starting lineup that beat Ealing last week. 

Bedford Blues Academy played their first game since the Christmas break, away to Ealing on their synthetic 3G pitch.  With two last minute changes in the back line, due to an injury in the warm up, and a late arrival, Bedford had to rearrange their back line minutes before the kick off.  Playing up the hill, and against a strong wind in the first half, the Blues turned around at half time down by 22pts – 17.  The second half was a different affair with the Blues scoring 31 unanswered points to win by 48pts – 22.