Next Up Hartpury

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Can be very frustrating to watch a ‘kicking battle’, either box kicking or for territory, when either the weather (wind) or absence of an effective ‘compete’ effectively cedes possession.
If the wind or skills on the day (we all have bad days) make the game plan invalid, then adapting during the game is a must: if they’ve screwed up the compete at a restart or from a box kicking for 50+ mins, unlikely it’s going to change during the game.
The fixture list wasn’t kind, but would the team have wanted/ expected (?) more from BPA?
No games are ‘gimmies’ but can’t have imagined Hartpury at home wasn’t identified as a potential 5 point win.

LifeInABlueSuit. A great first post on this forum......I wonder if more will be tempted to offer their views.

This week many of the games look like cert wins the only one which could go either way is our game.

But I feel Mike Rayer will have been working his magic, this is a five pointer for the home team in my book.

Do you agree

It took 2.5 games but finally put a performance together in the 2nd half. What a performance from Rory Ward, one of the best individual 2nd row performances I can remember in recent times. He’s really stepped up his level since last year and has been our best player over the first 3 games.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025:10:18:16:58:58 by Bluesman23.

Also thought Kayde Sylvester was good during his 60 mins. Not sure why he hasn’t been starting more.

Shame about Witheat. Thought he looked good but think he’s going to be out for a while.

Worth played well too, and our lineout functioned well after misfiring for the first few games.

I don't think many would have put Heffernan at the top of the try scoring charts for us a few games in.

For me this match turned for Bedford following us being awarded a scrum penalty in the second half, the ensuing 'handbags' kicked started the Blues we all know and love into action.

Hartpury are not an easy team to beat, unfortunately they do have a habit of time wasting.

Well three games down and a lot more to come any forecasts on where we will end at the end of the season.....

I agree Ward played really well, he is like having another back row forward. However the one thing he really needs to work on is his restarts, way too many float over his head, but agree he has developed and bulked up since he first signed and is a valuable player.

Sylvester was great too and did what Frost didn’t do and make dominant tackles. Although no player would ever do what Frost did in terms of putting his body in positions that would hurt.

Apart from the fist 10 mins when Blues were down to 14 we managed to keep Hartpury to an intercept try and 2 penalties, which is impressive as they are always a decent attacking team. To stop them from getting the bonus point was also important.

Day still needs to get more distance on those box kicks from inside the 22.

Also a comment on Worth, being our outside centre, fly half and wing in the game and didn’t really do anything wrong apart from that kick off and had a good finish for his try.

Ampthill looked good in the first half v Worcester before being overpowered in the 2nd half, it will be a tricky away game next week.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025:10:19:00:46:42 by TryBlues.

Yellow in 1st min left Bedford initially looking like they were still on the bus, but the benefit of some wise heads (flexibility and work rate) in the backs shone thru.

Blues kick compete was more effective, and I’d echo the praise (above and in match report thread) for 2nd/back row individually and as units, carries, tackles and stopping Hartpury at the gain-line.

Still looks like Blues are losing the headspace battle at the breakdown, and perhaps missing an out & out ‘fetcher’?

Thought officiating of breakdown was poor; hands past ball on the ground, and side entry from both teams was allowed all game. Likewise, 2-3 knock on’s (both teams) which wouldn’t have been surprised to have been adjudged Yellow, were not even pens, just scrums….?

Blues’ lineout/ rolling maul transition in the first half looked to be happening in instalments and too easy for Hartpury to defend/disrupt, effectively getting men onto the ball: Much improved in second half.

Opp defence up v quickly (midfield offside granted significant leeway too often), and if this theme continues Blues will need to do more to earn the right to go wide.

Successes and work-ons: losing a close game wouldn’t have been a disaster; winning doesn’t mask issues still to be ironed out.

I do agree we are missing a “fetcher”. Tuilagi is the best we have so hopefully having him back fit and starting will make a difference. As well as losing some back rowers, Matavesi was also the master of holding people up to create turnovers last year.