The Knights come riding in
By TryBlues
October 26 2025
It is the first Friday night lights of the season this week, as Doncaster Knights come riding into town. Kick off is at 7:45pm. Doncaster like Blues have had a slow start but have started to find their feet with a good win against Worcester Warriors and will fancy their chances against a Blues team who have started to play how they were in pre-season and the end of last season.
The Knights and Blues were the two in form teams at the end of last season and both teams will want/need the win to help them move up the table. Blues should be favourites and need the win more than Knights being at home, but I am expecting a close contest and no ty bonus points for the first time this season.
Blues may benefit having had an easier match against Ampthill than Knights had against Warriors.
I would like to see both Tuilagi and Uru start, probably with Brown, although Slyvester has performed well whenever given the chanse. Perhaps Benson won't be availbe and Slyvester will fill in at 2nd row.
It would be good to have Tonga uiha back, as the Knights packs is always physical.
I would probably keep the same backs as those who started against Ampthill.
The Knights come riding in
Posted by: Blues Brothers (IP Logged)
Date: 26/10/2025 18:50
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Re: The Knights come riding in
Posted by: Old blue (IP Logged)
Date: 27/10/2025 12:51
should be a great game as usual and difficult to caller the winner. I watched the Donny game against Worcester and they look a very decent side. Hopefully home advantage and a good crowd will see us get a narrow victory.
Re: The Knights come riding in
Posted by: compo simonite (IP Logged)
Date: 29/10/2025 20:28
Well its certain to be an interesting game last years 2nd placed team playing 3rd placed.
Last year 2,613 saw us win by sixteen points, this year I suspect ithe margin will be less than that.
In my book I have Blues with a four point win
The weather will have a say in who wins forecast is mild but windy and showers....coyb!
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2025:10:30:07:53:31 by compo simonite.
Last year 2,613 saw us win by sixteen points, this year I suspect ithe margin will be less than that.
In my book I have Blues with a four point win
The weather will have a say in who wins forecast is mild but windy and showers....coyb!
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2025:10:30:07:53:31 by compo simonite.
Re: The Knights come riding in
Posted by: Old blue (IP Logged)
Date: 30/10/2025 11:53
For the first time in a long time (I think) no saints loanees in the squad.
Bedford Blues Starting XV:
15. Louis James, 14. Ryan Hutler, 13. Lucas Titherington, 12. Michael Le Bourgeois (C), 11. Dean Adamson, 10. Will Maisey, 9. James Lennon; 1. Joey Conway, 2. James Fish, 3. Oisin Heffernan, 4. Rory Ward, 5. Alex Woolford, 6. Fred Tuilagi, 7. Kayde Sylvester, 8. Tui Uru
Bedford Blues Replacements:
16. Tommy Herman, 17. Jamie Jack, 18. Monty Royston, 19. Ilan Evans, 20. Nicholas Finch, 21. Alex Day, 22. George Worth, 23. Joe Hill
Unavailable for selection this week:
Archie Hosking, Tom Price, Rafe Witheat
Bedford Blues Starting XV:
15. Louis James, 14. Ryan Hutler, 13. Lucas Titherington, 12. Michael Le Bourgeois (C), 11. Dean Adamson, 10. Will Maisey, 9. James Lennon; 1. Joey Conway, 2. James Fish, 3. Oisin Heffernan, 4. Rory Ward, 5. Alex Woolford, 6. Fred Tuilagi, 7. Kayde Sylvester, 8. Tui Uru
Bedford Blues Replacements:
16. Tommy Herman, 17. Jamie Jack, 18. Monty Royston, 19. Ilan Evans, 20. Nicholas Finch, 21. Alex Day, 22. George Worth, 23. Joe Hill
Unavailable for selection this week:
Archie Hosking, Tom Price, Rafe Witheat
Re: The Knights come riding in
Posted by: TryBlues (IP Logged)
Date: 30/10/2025 18:44
I t looks like our best team really, yes a couple of Saints can add to it, but the back row is big and powerful. Front row is first choice as Fish has started better than Herman so far this season. The backs played so well v Ampthill.
Re: The Knights come riding in
Posted by: TryBlues (IP Logged)
Date: 31/10/2025 22:14
Great win against a very good team. One we needed to win as well.
I thought it was a excellent game, where it was all about having the ball as if you didn't you were going to let a try in unless you are Hutler and can run 95m! There were some special tries in the first half.
Special praise for Maisey and the kicking as he missed 2 and Knights missed 9, which was the difference.
I also thought Uru had his best game of the season, Lennon added distance on the kicking out of hand. Also Heffernan, for a tighthead to cover the ground he does and play pretty much 80 mins, is already my player of the season (subject to change)!
I thought it was a excellent game, where it was all about having the ball as if you didn't you were going to let a try in unless you are Hutler and can run 95m! There were some special tries in the first half.
Special praise for Maisey and the kicking as he missed 2 and Knights missed 9, which was the difference.
I also thought Uru had his best game of the season, Lennon added distance on the kicking out of hand. Also Heffernan, for a tighthead to cover the ground he does and play pretty much 80 mins, is already my player of the season (subject to change)!
Re: The Knights come riding in
Posted by: compo simonite (IP Logged)
Date: 31/10/2025 22:26
For me the game turned when Doncaster's penalty hit the post, after that the momentum seemed to be with us.....
Re: The Knights come riding in
Posted by: Old blue (IP Logged)
Date: 31/10/2025 22:42
Our “normal” slow start followed by a fantastic counter attack in the first half. I thought all the pack played well against a good Donny team. Some really sensible kicking for territory in the second half showed good game management. They were certainly enjoying themselves in the changing rooms after the match by the amount of noise they were making!
Re: The Knights come riding in
Posted by: the hooded man (IP Logged)
Date: 01/11/2025 14:11
Not a game for the faint hearted. It was halloween after all and, sure enough, the Faithful were treated to a horror show in the first 20 with poor defence, profligate ball and penalties. The Yellow for Donnies 4 changed the tenor of the game and Blues bounced back to lead at the break. A half of two halves, you might say.
The second half, I think, saw Doncaster begin to reassert themselves and they managed to re-take the lead. As shown in the game against Hartpury, this Bedford squad is not without character and they doubled down to take the game.
There were a couple of stand out tries for Blues. Hutler's pace and strength over 90 meters paid off. When the chase was on, it was a case of will he-won't he be caught as the chasing player was making ground until the last 15 when he made a last ditch attempt at a tackle as he was starting to lose ground. Credit to the conditioning coach.
Thanks Blues, terrific spectacle and great game.
The second half, I think, saw Doncaster begin to reassert themselves and they managed to re-take the lead. As shown in the game against Hartpury, this Bedford squad is not without character and they doubled down to take the game.
There were a couple of stand out tries for Blues. Hutler's pace and strength over 90 meters paid off. When the chase was on, it was a case of will he-won't he be caught as the chasing player was making ground until the last 15 when he made a last ditch attempt at a tackle as he was starting to lose ground. Credit to the conditioning coach.
Thanks Blues, terrific spectacle and great game.
Re: The Knights come riding in
Posted by: blueherts (IP Logged)
Date: 02/11/2025 23:17
Great to see you back hooded man. Thank you for your observations on the match. Always interesting and spot on!
Re: The Knights come riding in
Posted by: the hooded man (IP Logged)
Date: 03/11/2025 15:17
Nice of you to say blueherts. Thankyou.
Blues need to take the momentum from the last couple of games into the future. Caldy and Nottingham have started strongly this season and although you might argue that Caldy have had the benefit of slightly easier fixtures, you've got to give them credit for taking their opportunity and they did beat Nottingham, but came unstuck against Pirates. We'll know how we stand come the end of the month by when we'll have played both clubs.
Blues need to take the momentum from the last couple of games into the future. Caldy and Nottingham have started strongly this season and although you might argue that Caldy have had the benefit of slightly easier fixtures, you've got to give them credit for taking their opportunity and they did beat Nottingham, but came unstuck against Pirates. We'll know how we stand come the end of the month by when we'll have played both clubs.
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