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BEDFORD BLUES BLOG - BY STEPHANIE AND ALISON SPONSORED BY THE CRICKETER'S ARMS - BEDFORD Sevens Heaven! May 2009 Blues Blogs are like buses, none for ages, and then two come along in quick succession! So, the end of the season, and what a season. If we’d been offered a third place finish when RFTG first came to Bedford in September, we’d have jumped at it (but possibly more in hope than expectation!). But here we are, the highest semi-Pro team in our league (whatever it’s called now, thanks RFU!), with a great season behind us and the yawning gap that is the summer, the only thing, stretching out in front of us. Or is it? The Blues Followers Ball took place on Saturday May 2nd (names will not be mentioned to protect the innocent!) and needless to say, a few glasses of falling down water may have been consumed during the course of a fun evening. This in itself is not remarkable. What is? The fact that an elite few managed to stay sober (ish) enough to surface the following morning, and drive all the way to sunny Norfolk to support the Blues at the North Walsham 7s tournament! Admittedly some of us got there earlier than others, but get there we did! This was my first experience of watching 7s, and it takes a bit of watching; blink & you’ll miss it, it’s so fast! The tournament had various different cups running simultaneously, on 3 different pitches, so there was never a shortage of rugby to watch. Blues seemed to cruise through their pool matches (or was it that I was still a bit fuzzy from the night before?), with some sparkling rugby, tries everywhere. Considering most of the team had been at the ball the night before, and the “Gentlemen’s Do” on the Friday night, it was some achievement! It started to get a bit more serious when we drew Leicester Tigers in the semis, but the boys did the business, and proceeded to win a thrilling final against a specialist international 7s squad. So, looks like we’ll be going back to Norfolk next year. A great day out, really well organised by North Walsham, and a lot of fun! And continuing the 7s theme….a bunch of supporters are off to Bournemouth, for their international 7s tournament over the May Bank Holiday weekend. This is on a much bigger scale, and includes a music festival, netball tournament etc, but the main reason for us going is that one of our stars of this year, Billy Twelvetrees, and his brothers are entering a team. His sponsor at Bedford, Amanda Jane Lingerie, has generously agreed to sponsor the team, and so, Team Twelvetrees is born! We are getting kitted out with matching shirts etc, and are working on some ‘unique’ chants! Ryan Owen, also of Bedford, will also be in the tournament, as part of a ‘stag do team’, which should prove interesting! Reports to follow in due course…. So, us Blues supporters are managing to keep getting our rugby ‘fix’ during May, and then just have June to deal with. Roll on next season, whatever it may bring! A quick note to say that we will forgive anyone who takes just a moment away from supporting Blues next season to keep an eye on Leicester (Billy Twelvetrees, left), Harlequins (Karl Dickson, right – that one’s for you Trish!) and Newport RFC (Ryan Owen), as we sadly say goodbye, but wish them all the luck for next year.
Our thanks to RFTG to being such great supporters of the Blues this season, and we look forward to welcoming you all back soon. If we were good this year, just you wait….!
April 2009 Greetings RFTG, and firstly, our apologies for having been so quiet for so long (not like us at all!).
It’s been a busy few months, but having got some much needed annual leave, here’s the latest. After the hugely successful Ladies Day back in October, the Blues have continued from strength to strength during the season (if you ignore a couple of bizarre results along the way!), and are currently enjoying what I believe the proper pundits call a “rich vein of form”. We are in the enviable position of being 6 wins from the last 6 games, including a wonderful win against the league leaders Leeds, and our nearest (in league terms) rivals, Nottingham and Doncaster. Now that the weather is improving, we’re getting back to playing the open flowing game which seems to suit the team, and delights the supporters. Our thoughts are now turning to what we can expect next year. We’re aware that unfortunately some of the boys will not be turning out for us next year, but considering the standards that we’ve set this year, it’s not really surprising that they would get some other offers. We wish those departing all the best and will no doubt keep an eye on their progress, wherever they’re off to. Billy Twelvetrees sponsorship by Amanda Jane Lingerie (are we the first team to have a lingerie sponsor?!) has continued to delight & amuse the Bedford supporters ( and confuse the heck out of some visitors!), but has certainly had everyone talking, and possibly improved the number of ladies attending, which can only be a good thing. Amanda has become one of “the gang”, so we’ll make sure she gets introduced when you visit. Which neatly leads me to…the RFTG hoards that will be descending on us for our final game of the season, and we can’t wait to catch up with everyone. So long as the weather plays ball, which it seems to whenever you guys are involved, it should be one hell of a party! And finally….
The day of the calendar shoot, there was much mickey-taking (and some very inappropriate use of what I think are described as “adult toys”!) by the boys as to whether Steph & I would join in, and “get our kit off” too. Needless to say, we maintained our decorum (well, Steph did!) and declined their very kind offer. But it got me thinking, dangerous I know!
So, with some very sneaky help from the club, but without the boys knowledge, we decided that anything they could do…..and the result was a rather special Christmas card for the team, revealed in the Cricketers to the tune of “You can leave your hat on”!! Come on you Blues! 
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Bedford Blues Ladies Day. Oct 18th.
Well, we always seem to have an amazing day whenever RFTG are involved, and Saturday was no different.
The “A team” at the Cricketers Arms went into action early on Saturday morning, and a pink decorating frenzy followed! The pub looked fantastic, and really encouraged the party atmosphere that followed, along with generous donations to the Breast Cancer cause. By the time we all arrived at lunchtime, the pub was packed with glamorous ladies bedecked in their pink finery, and some of the guys looked pretty hot too! The girls behind the bar had made an extra special effort, and looked stunning!
The weather had obviously been told about the charity theme for the day, and we had a beautiful sunny day to enjoy the rugby. A larger than expected crowd were treated to pre-match entertainment in the marquee, and more than a few ladies were spotted checking out the advance previews of the Blues calendar. The chocolate fountain also proved popular (naming no names, Trish!). So, after a complimentary glass of Rosé, we claimed our spot to watch “the Pinks” take on a Sedgely Park side, who had generously donated £500 to the cause when they heard about the plans for the day.
Bedford played some exciting open rugby, and Jill was able to get some shots of her poster boys in full flow! Mouritz even had pink ribbons in his skull cap, to compliment the special pink shirts. We reckon that pink suits our boys, but it was a little confusing knowing what to shout; “Come on you Pinks” just doesn’t feel right! Final score was 53-7, but with all credit to Sedgely, who never let their heads go down.
Post match there was more entertainment in the marquee, with raffle prizes and then the auction for those prized pink shirts. The silent auction doesn’t close until tomorrow, so we don’t yet know the total raised, but one shirt raised £1500 alone, so we hope for a really substantial sum.
Post, post match we all adjourned to the Cricketers, and there was much general carousing in the pink party pub! Jill & the girls got to catch up with Pritch & the rest of team that joined us, and I think it’s fair to say that a good time was had by all!
So another great RFTG day, with thanks to all involved for making the day so much fun! Looking forward to the next time…. London Welsh v Bedford Blues
Saturday 20th September 2008 What a glorious day - almost too hot for playing rugby and what wonderful hosts London Welsh are. We are always made to feel welcome there and for a lot of the Blue's supporters, the favourite away ground to go to. London Welsh took an early lead & held that lead until 20 mins into the 2nd half. Then the Blues gained control and kept it for a win of 32 to LW's 23. They didn't manage the bonus point as they couldn't quite manage the 4th try
but they are still at the top of table! The three wonderful tries were scored by Brendan Burke (sponsored by the Cricketers Arms), Ryan Owen & Billy Twelvetrees, and the Man of the Match was James Pritchard. Any player who scores a try or a drop goal or is Man of
the Match gets a drink on the house! Surprise, surprise they all turned up for their drinks last night! Well done the Blues, that was a tough one to win. Just do the same next week please against Exeter - another one that will be tricky."
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