GOING TO BED WITH FRIENDS

I have fond memories of Bedford Blues. Little DG and I used to love our trips to Goldington Road. It was usually a late summer evening, almost always warm and ahead of us lay a whole new season to savour. (Those were the days – do you remember a time when you could go and watch a rugby match with your mates – no masks, no social distancing, free-flowing alcohol oh happy days!) The games with Bedford were often closer than might have been expected – until the unlimited substitutions towards the end when Sarries usually pushed on.

It was often a first chance to see new signings in sarries’ colours – I vividly remember seeing Mike Ellery for the first time and thinking Jacques Burger had had a facelift! There was the time they switched on the new floodlights – only someone had forgotten to check what time the sunset and it was almost pitch black when the big switch-on was scheduled. There was the choice of the single grandstand (which cost something like £5 for the privilege) or the option of standing, old style, around the perimeter. Toilets were a bit limited, especially for us ladies, but the clubhouse and the excellent food made up for any short-comings. Would we ever have believed, in those good old days, that we would be playing Bedford in a meaningful game. What a crazy world.

Of course Sarries and Bedford go back a long way – thanks to dual registration, many of our players learned their craft with Bedford Blues. One teenager named Owen Farrell was happily kicking his goals in Bedfordshire before a hasty summons back to Watford when the club had a fly-half injury crisis and we all know what happened then! Other first team players to have spent time at Bedford include Jackson Wray, Duncan Taylor, Mako Vunipola, Will Fraser and George Kruis. Will Hooley has joined Saracens this season from Bedford. There was some movement the other way, most notably Sam Stanley who remained at Bedford.

The 2 teams first played each other in 1899 with Bedford winning 11-5. In the amateur days the 2 clubs met a number of times with Sarries holding an 18-13 winning record. The teams last met competitively back in 2000 in the Tetley Bitter Cup.

Bedford have managed 6 points in 4 games so far this season while Sarries have 10 from 3. Bedford lost at home to Jersey Reds last time out.  Bedford are hoping to field a stronger team with the return of a few key players from injury. Jordan Onojaife, Henry Paul, Corrie Barrett and Oskar Hirskyj-Douglashave all been missing so far this season and Bedford Manager Mark Rayner hinted that at least some may be available for the match. Former Sarrie Reuben Bird-Tulloch will probably also feature for the Blues.

Mark McCall on the other hand should be able to call on his returning International players if he chooses. It will be interesting to see who gets the nod. Nick Tompkins has also returned to the club following his loan spell in Wales although I don’t expect he will feature this weekend. Will Jamie George be risked again? Given our acute hooker crisis it is tempting but he will be desperately needed for the match with Ealing Trailfinders in a couple of weeks. I suspect KP may start this week with Jamie on the bench as insurance. I think Billy will feature if fit (we know he would rather play) and possibly Mako (having had a break last week). I think Maro may be saved for next week. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Owen start as he is still struggling a bit for form. So we may see something like:-

Maitland, Lewington, Socino, Taylor, Segun, Farrell, Davies; M Vunipola, Pifileti, Clarey, Hunter-Hill, Kpoku, Rhodes, Wray, B Vunipola.

Bedford will be up for this – no doubt about it. Once again Saracens will be the opponents at a Championship “Cup Final” and Bedford will undoubtedly lift their game. Sarries need to ensure they are playing at a level Blues can not reach. The next 3 weeks are vital for our club’s survival. Nothing less than 5 points will do. The boys must deliver.