Blues: Rayer milestone marked by ten-try Blues salute

We round up all the action from Northampton Saints’ partner club – Bedford Blues – in their latest match in the Championship…  

Bedford Blues 62 – 21 London Scottish

Bedford Blues’ last match of the Championship season was also director of rugby Mike Rayer’s 500th game in charge and his big day was marked in style as London Scottish were thumped 62-21 at the Athletic Ground. 

Winger Dean Adamson scored four of their ten tries in south-west London as the Blues came from behind to score 45 unanswered points in the second half. 

Although there were (for the first time this season) no Saints players in their matchday squad on this occasion, there were several players who used to ply their trade at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens in there, including 2013/14 Premiership winner Jamie Elliott. 

Bedford’s – and Rayer’s – afternoon did not get off the best of starts, however, as London Scottish struck first through Cameron Anderson’s individual try, which was converted by Dan Nutton. 

Blues did turn things around, however, as James Little broke through to score from a tapped penalty for the equalising score before prop Joey Conway crashed over from close range to put them in front. 

The rest of the first half was nip-and-tuck and the Exiles led 14-12 after Brian Tuilagi’s try, but Bedford were quickly ahead again when Alex Day broke before passing to Elliott, whose offload set up Adamson to open his account. 

Scottish went into the break 21-17 in front when Morgan Davies struck off the final play of the first half, but it was all Blues from this point, as the league’s bottom side were ripped apart. 

Eight minutes into the second half, Oli Stedman peeled off the back of a scrum to score and before another two minutes had passed, the ball went through the hands for Matt Worley to apply the finishing touch. 

Bedford were now running riot and had their third try in five minutes when Elliott scorched in from distance, showing the sort of pace that made him a fan favourite at the Gardens earlier in his career. 

There was a bit of luck in the visitors’ seventh try as Adamson’s kick rebounded off the post protector and gave him the easy task of gathering before going over. 

There was no let up from Blues and they hit the 50-point mark for the 40th time under Rayer after replacement prop Josh Pieterse dived over. 

Adamson completed his third hat-trick of the season in the 78th minute, but there was still time for him to grab a fourth and move to within two tries of 100 for the club. 

Although there are still some games to be played in the Championship this season, Bedford are set to finish fifth in the Championship after what has been a roller-coaster of a campaign. 

They still have the Championship Cup to look forward to, with the first of two legs against Nottingham coming up at Lady Bay on Friday 8 April.