It was another fantastic calendar year for Bedford Blues, who concluded 2022 in the perfect fashion on Boxing Day – securing victory in the derby against Ampthill to retain their spot in the top four of the Championship table.
With COVID-19 causing less of a disruption to the rugby calendar in 2022, the first one back to full normality since 2019, it afforded some unbelievable occasions for the #BluesFamily to enjoy both on and off the pitch.
Sensational victories away at Ealing and Pirates were intertwined with another sell-out Fireworks Display and Funfair, the full acquisition of The Burrow at the Blues and continued developments at Goldington Road including a new classroom hub facility for its charitable arm, Blues Foundation.
Bedford Blues Women secured the league title back in March and are looking forward with excitement to the 2023 campaign, which it is hoped will continue the upwards trajectory across all areas.
Reflecting on 2022, there may be some Bedford Blues statistics you missed during the year:
Across 2022, a total of 27 competitive Bedford Blues matches were played. Mike Rayer’s side won on 12 occasions, suffering 15 defeats. Highlights included those away victories against perennial top four sides, some attritional wins, and concluding the year unbeaten at home from the first half of the 2022/23 campaign.
A total of 103 tries were scored, at an average of just under four per fixture, split down to 52 in the second half of the 2021/22 campaign and 51 in the first half of the current campaign. There have been 11 Try of the Week wins – the most of any side – as Blues continue to showcase edge-of-the-seat action.
Across the calendar year, Blues finished with a positive points difference. Mike Rayer’s side averaged just over 28 points a fixture having scored 761, while conceding 727.
A total of 66 players made one or more competitive appearance for Bedford Blues in 2022. There were four former Blues academy graduates involved – all of whom born in Bedford – former captain Rich Lane, Tom Litchfield, Jamie Elliott and Dean Adamson all featured.
Notable appearance milestones
500 – Director of Rugby, Mike Rayer celebrated half a millennium of matches in charge of the club during the thumping victory over London Scottish in March. Despite trailing at half-time, Blues came out firing in the second half to conclude the afternoon with ten tries in a 62-21 success.
100 – The longest serving current member of the forwards pack, Jacob Fields became the latest to join the illustrious Century Club during the first-ever competitive meeting with Caldy on Ladies Day back in October. Cubby led the squad out for a 52-29 victory.
50 – Two players celebrated reaching 50 appearances and they came in consecutive weekends back in March. As Mike Rayer was celebrating 500 games in charge, Joe Atkinson was celebrating featuring in 10% of those games while Matt Worley followed suit in the next game for the Real Ale Festival against Coventry.
In order not to miss out on the games and milestones in 2023 – contact louis@bedfordrugby.co.uk to get involved with Bedford Blues throughout the year
