Blues v Chinnor

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5 points is enough to secure 2nd. If we finish tied on points on Coventry we will finish ahead on games won

The next must win cup final, until the next one.
Enjoying this season I have to say.
Keep it up boys.

This has to be a full strength team effort, the last 'real' home game of the season at Goldington Road this season.....defeat unthinkable!

Just where has the season gone!

COYB

Cov are hard on our heals and have the easiest run-in of the contenders for top four. Pirates and Warriors can do us a favour by halting a good run of results for Cov.
But we shouldn't rely on others doing the job for us. This team has demonstrated an incredible commitment and energy in the last couple games. Chinnor are a difficult team to break down and have got everything to play for. A slip up by Warriors against two in- form teams make a top four finish by Chinnor a mathematical possibility with a home game against Richmond to end the regular season.. And they'll have the bragging rights of doing the double on us if we don't turn up.
Our attack and defence have both been strong of late and we must bring the same focus on Saturday. The scrum has stood up well. We need at least one more complete game over the eighty minutes to secure an almost certain second spot. COYB

Chinnor are a very good well coached team, they’ll be up for it. It should be a great game.
COYB



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:04:29:21:36:16 by Jonathan Wilcox.

Concur JW. Let's hope the expectation draws a good crowd.

Quote:

compo simonite
This has to be a full strength team effort, the last 'real' home game of the season at Goldington Road this season.....defeat unthinkable!
Just where has the season gone!

COYB

Agreed Compo.
Looking forward to the team announcement tomorrow
COYB!

Quote:

Bluesman23
5 points is enough to secure 2nd. If we finish tied on points on Coventry we will finish ahead on games won

That is correct, I said that on the league rugby forum, but did this too late at night and didn't add our 1 win we would have as well!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:04:30:22:41:43 by TryBlues.

I didn't realise Coventry have not won down in Cornwall, hope it continues!

Bedford Blues Starting XV:

15. George Worth, 14. Amena Caqusau, 13. Lucas Titherington, 12. Michael Le Bourgeois, 11. Dean Adamson, 10. Will Maisey, 9. Alex Day (C); 1. Joey Conway, 2. Tommy Herman, 3. Oisin Heffernan, 4. Rory Ward, 5. Alex Woolford, 6. Fred Tuilagi, 7. Fyn Brown, 8. Tui Uru

Bedford Blues Replacements:

16. James Fish, 17. Jamie Jack, 18. Sonny Tonga’uiha, 19. Aiden Ainsworth-Cave, 20. Kayde Sylvester, 21. James Lennon, 22. Toby Thame, 23. Joe Hill

A 10 out of 10 winning side from Mr Rayer

COYB

2nd place secured and we can just enjoy the next couple of weeks! I would put something like this out against Ealing if Saints let us:

15. Joe Hill
14. Ryan Hutler
13. Billy Pasco
12. Toby Thame
11. Amena Caqusau
10. Booj (or James Pater if we’re allowed him)
9. James Lennon
8. Archie Hoskin
7. Nick Finch
6. Kayde Sylvester
5. Ilan Evans
4. Aiden Ainsworth-Cave
3. Ben Griffin
2. James Fish
1. Monty Royston

16. Tommy Herman
17. Jamie Jack
18. Sonny Tonga’uiha
19. Alex Woolford
20. Tui Uru
21. Alex Day
22. Lucas Titherington
23. George Worth

A gritty win for the Blues today against a determined Chinnor side who kept going for the full 80.
They must have had 70% of the procession and played really well.
The Blues defence was excellent throughout the match.
The officiating was very ordinary to be honest.
One AR missed a clear punch on a Bedford player less than 10 metres in front on him.
Also he missed a knock on for the last Chinnor try.
When a Bedford supporter showed him a video of the incident while under the posts for the conversion he had a good laugh about it!!
Chinnor deserved their 2 points and are a much better organised outfit they many others in this league,

The main difference was the Blues defence was stronger and then when we attacked he did so with a little more pace and purpose.

Chinnor should have started their front row that ended.

Good to have Tonga'uiha back his ball carrying is just like his dad!

Also I thought Herman had a very good 45 mins.

Well as I see it both clubs came away from the game happy, we got five points they got two.

A game of many highlights, humour and annoying habits.

Highlights were led by our defence and Fred's runaway try.....just making it before he was tackled.

Chinnor subs for once an away team had a sense of humour entering to the laughter at their players 'tap and go' mistake, even at the end of the game it was handshakes all round with the nearby Blues supporters

Annoying habits the referee and the resetting of the scrum.....numerous times..... 'Sir' had a lacklustre overall performance in my humble opinion which affected not just the two teams on the pitch

Enthralling game. Although Chinnor went away with two points, they might be a tad disappointed they didn't go away with more. A lot of attacking positions were butchered - the tap and go being the classic example. Blues' defence was resilient, forcing the penalties that enabled them to relieve the pressure.
Chinnor have almost certainly qualified in top six. They would have to screw up big time against Richmond accompanied by a a five pointer for Pirates and two points for Hartpury. Still all to play for.
I'm a bit ambivalent about who takes the field at Ealing. Whilst resting the 'regular' 23 is attractive, it means the likely team in the final will not have played for three weeks. Although injuries are a risk, keep them battle hardened for the semi and hopefully the final.

…. and as many have posted and commented pitch side:

We never seem to be ‘up for it’ after even a minor break.

Possibly the biggest team selection challenge of the season for Mike and his team coming up next?

We have a history of players getting injured on Ealing’s artificial pitch (Deano in particular hates playing there). Add to that, that in general you are probably more likely to pick up injuries against Ealing because their players are just bigger and stronger than other teams in the league. We’re so far in the season now that I don’t think a couple of weeks rest will lead to any rustiness and they shouldn’t have any issue getting themselves up for a semi final at a packed Goldington Road.

I think the pros of resting the key players outweigh the cons. It doesn’t have to be everyone, but I would at least rest the players where we have no cover or they are too integral to our success. Maisey, Heffernan and Adamson would be my top 3.

Fred got injured against Ealing in the first game against them and we would have wanted him for Coventry. It could be the same situation.

We usually use the last league game as a bit of a goodbye one. Ealing will rest keys players I imagine, although their 2nd team is still good.

Listening to the Maisey after game interview it sounded like he was playing or wanted to.