The Ravers come for Friday night lights
By TryBlues
November 8 2025
Friday nights lights again sees Blues host Caldy (The Ravers) in a 3rd v 4th battle with both teams on the same points as Worcester (2nd) and Nottingham 5th. Caldy have a relationship with Sale which supplements thei squad of many home grown players with a big pack and a few good backs.
Caldy have had an easier set of fixtures than Blues but will be coming to try and slow the game down and use their big pack to score some mauls. Blues will need to have a high tempo, which I think Lennon has provided more so than Day this season. Caldy will be looking to get the Doctor on the pitch as much as possible to disrupt the Blues rhythm.
Blues should have enough to get the 5 points but Caldy may be a tricky opponent.
I would like to see Lennon and Price start this one. Both have a bigger boot than Day and Maisey. I would also be tempted to give Pasco a run out.
In the forwards Herman has not been as consistent as Fish at lineout time, but I would start him to play him into form, as he has been a little quieter this season. With Woolford injured I would be tempted with Slyvester in the 2nd row and both Tuilagi and Uru starting with Brown (if available).
The Ravers come for Friday night lights
Posted by: Blues Brothers (IP Logged)
Date: 08/11/2025 19:10
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Re: The Ravers come for Friday night lights
Posted by: Old blue (IP Logged)
Date: 10/11/2025 09:04
It’s forecast to be wet on Friday which will play into Caldy’s hands I suspect with their big pack. That being said I think the Bedford pack is stronger this year and we will win narrowly after giving the supporters a few heart attacks Ali g the way.
Re: The Ravers come for Friday night lights
Posted by: BedfordBlue9 (IP Logged)
Date: 11/11/2025 11:43
Agree this will be a very tough forward dominated game.
One we can win if we play to our potential.
Up the Blues
One we can win if we play to our potential.
Up the Blues
Re: The Ravers come for Friday night lights
Posted by: compo simonite (IP Logged)
Date: 11/11/2025 20:06
Once again the Blues will run out under the floodlights, with the potential of rain Fridays game has it all, two big packs and the Blues wingers who will be in full flight. .
It be wrong to say that Caldy have not improved on their 11th place of last season
With a gate of over 2500 all of whom are looking forward to 80 mins of fast flowing uninterrupted play. ..
For me a high scoring encounter with the Blues running out winners coyb....
It be wrong to say that Caldy have not improved on their 11th place of last season
With a gate of over 2500 all of whom are looking forward to 80 mins of fast flowing uninterrupted play. ..
For me a high scoring encounter with the Blues running out winners coyb....
Re: The Ravers come for Friday night lights
Posted by: Bluesman23 (IP Logged)
Date: 12/11/2025 00:02
The forecast for Friday is atrocious. This will not be a high scoring game. Caldy probably have the best maul in the division and the conditions are going to suit them perfectly. I would be constantly reminding the players all week no silly penalties in our own half. I would rather concede a turnover than give away a needless penalty on halfway and give Caldy a chance to maul. The best way to stop it is to starve them of opportunities. In dry conditions I’d back us to win comfortably but this has banana skin written all over it. Hopefully our injuries from last week are not too serious. James, Conway and Woolford all came off, I think James was just precautionary but all would be big losses.
Re: The Ravers come for Friday night lights
Posted by: compo simonite (IP Logged)
Date: 12/11/2025 09:36
Bluesman23 what an excellent synopsis of Friday's game, I am certain Mr Rayer will read it in detail as will the players that read this forum....
Let's all pray for an improvement in the weather...
Let's all pray for an improvement in the weather...
Re: The Ravers come for Friday night lights
Posted by: TryBlues (IP Logged)
Date: 13/11/2025 14:12
Bedford Blues Starting XV:
15. Louis James, 14. Ryan Hutler, 13. George Worth, 12. Lucas Titherington, 11. Dean Adamson, 10. Will Maisey, 9. Alex Day (C); 1. Jamie Jack, 2. Tommy Herman, 3. Oisin Heffernan, 4. Ilan Evans, 5. Rory Ward, 6. Fred Tuilagi, 7. Kayde Sylvester, 8. Tui Uru
Bedford Blues Replacements:
16. James Fish, 17. Joe Cowell #3857, 18. Monty Royston, 19. Archie Appleby, 20. Nicholas Finch, 21. James Lennon, 22. Tom Price, 23. Michael Le Bourgeois
Unavailable for selection this week:
Joey Conway, Alex Woolford, Rafe Witheat
15. Louis James, 14. Ryan Hutler, 13. George Worth, 12. Lucas Titherington, 11. Dean Adamson, 10. Will Maisey, 9. Alex Day (C); 1. Jamie Jack, 2. Tommy Herman, 3. Oisin Heffernan, 4. Ilan Evans, 5. Rory Ward, 6. Fred Tuilagi, 7. Kayde Sylvester, 8. Tui Uru
Bedford Blues Replacements:
16. James Fish, 17. Joe Cowell #3857, 18. Monty Royston, 19. Archie Appleby, 20. Nicholas Finch, 21. James Lennon, 22. Tom Price, 23. Michael Le Bourgeois
Unavailable for selection this week:
Joey Conway, Alex Woolford, Rafe Witheat
Re: The Ravers come for Friday night lights
Posted by: TryBlues (IP Logged)
Date: 14/11/2025 21:51
20-8 win which was deserved on the territory we had although we couldn’t make the most of it. Caldy will be disappointed not to get the losing bonus point.
I felt we should have tried more in the first half to score and also recognised 2 passes out there was space.
Also disappointed with Day playing for half time, at least kick it down their end and let them kick it out in case of a slip, sliced kick or maybe a good chase.
I felt we should have tried more in the first half to score and also recognised 2 passes out there was space.
Also disappointed with Day playing for half time, at least kick it down their end and let them kick it out in case of a slip, sliced kick or maybe a good chase.
Re: The Ravers come for Friday night lights
Posted by: TryBlues (IP Logged)
Date: 14/11/2025 22:38
Forgot to say Sylvester has really added to the Blues, especially in the lineout, he is a constant pain for the opposition, being about 6’ 7” with long arms certainly helps.
Re: The Ravers come for Friday night lights
Posted by: BedfordBlue9 (IP Logged)
Date: 14/11/2025 22:49
I was there, the conditions were not conducive for our usual style of play. I thought we fully deserved the win we more than matched the Caldy threat up front, they never threatened our try line,Ward again had a massive game. Also thought our back line was so good in defence especially the back three, James at full back was the pick with a siege gun of a left boot being used to great effect at times.
COME ON YOU BLUES
COME ON YOU BLUES
Re: The Ravers come for Friday night lights
Posted by: Old blue (IP Logged)
Date: 14/11/2025 23:14
Blues defended well except for the Caldy try when Caldy expertly overloaded the blind side. The second half performance was excellent and showed great resilience. Caldy got some crucial turnovers but I got irritated with them screaming for it at every breakdown even when they were no where near the ball. I suppose all sides do it but Caldy were over the top.
Re: The Ravers come for Friday night lights
Posted by: compo simonite (IP Logged)
Date: 15/11/2025 13:57
Some great post about last night's game I agree with Old Blue's post, yes they were a noisy bunch at the break down, ably assisted by their bench.
Once again the Blues prove they have conquered the slope, we now play as well up the slope as down it.
I wonder if any watching on TV saw that Caldy's two short lineout throws which included a return forward pass, fortunately our defence was up to it.
The rain led both sides having handling problems as forecast this was always going to be a low scoring game, but watched by an amazing 2100 which proves what an amazing club we have.
Once again the Blues prove they have conquered the slope, we now play as well up the slope as down it.
I wonder if any watching on TV saw that Caldy's two short lineout throws which included a return forward pass, fortunately our defence was up to it.
The rain led both sides having handling problems as forecast this was always going to be a low scoring game, but watched by an amazing 2100 which proves what an amazing club we have.
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