BLUES HISTORY Chandler got his second try when he crossed the line 2009 - LUKE FIELDEN unopposed after a break by full-back Richard Greed. TRY SCORER on this day... The final try came from second row who stormed through, passed to Batty and then Marie Davies took the high return to crash over. Fylde could only respond with one penalty and had also ended their unbeaten home record.’

5o years ago 4o years ago Bedford scorers 1969 1979 T: Francombe, Chandler (2), Bayfield

Ampthill 0-32 Bedford XV Bedford 26-9 Exeter C: Vaudin 1o years ago ‘On Tuesday, Ampthill realised one of their ‘Blues destroyed Exeter scoring four fine tries. P: Vaudin 2009 dreams - their own clubhouse - Budge Rogers 1989 - JIM CHANDLER New player John Blount showed his pace on the - TWO TRIES took over a Bedford side and then performed the Bedford 5-6 Bristol wing with a superb first half try when he kicked the tape-cutting ceremony. ball ahead and raced to beat the defence to the 2o years ago ‘The 4,067 crowd were certainly entertained by a It was a splendid evening all round with an excellent touchdown. He added a second try in the second cracking game of rugby which could certainly have crowd. Bedford entertained with their usual half. However, it was scrum-half Nick Youngs who 1999 gone either way. running rugby and the home side emerged as a stole the show with his immaculate service, powerful Bedford 8-27 The first half was very close and it was Bedford who hard-tackling, fast-covering side who should have running and two fine tries. Steve Kerridge added gained most ground when they had the ball, but With the prospect of financially difficult times ahead a good season. John Woodward of Ampthill should two conversions and two penalties. it was Bristol who led at half-time after Jarvis had be congratulated on preventing Bedford’s strong and an uncertain future for the Blues we had lost Exeter’s points came from a kicked two penalties. Near the end of the first half running wing Neil Boult from scoring. However, several players at the end of the 1998-99 season, try by Steve Williams and a Brendan Burke picked up a nasty ankle injury and there were seven tries from Bedford - two apiece for after Rudi Straeuli’s side had clung on to a place in conversion and penalty by was replaced in the centre by Luke Fielden. Roger Slaughter, Tony Else and centre Jeremy Janion the Premiership by the narrowest of margins. Steve Webb. Bedford came out flying in the second half and and one for centre Gareth Davies. Mike Nurton Three of our last season’s players turned out for scored the game’s only try. Scrum half converted four and added a penalty. Bedford captain Nick Martin London Irish ‘on this day’ - Ben Whetstone, hooker said after the game that he passed to fly half Myles Dorrian who spotted a gap, After the game the Ampthill President Dick Richard Kirke and prop Neal Hatley. was pleased with the team’s drew the defence, passed to who Dillingham escorted the teams to the new performance, but that ‘Unsurprisingly, Bedford Ben added two more tries offloaded to Fielden who raced over for the try. clubhouse, Budge Rogers cut the tape and the there was definitely more to those he has already scored at . Unfortunately, the difficult conversion was missed. celebrations began! However, it wasn’t plain sailing for the visiting team, to come.’ This was a game of ‘What if?’ Fielden and most who although they had control in the scrum were Bedford scorers of the crowd thought he had scored the winning try Bedford scorers second best in the lineout mainly because of the T: Slaughter (2), Else (2), Janion (2), Davies in the last ten minutes, but Bristol got the benefit of T: Blount (2), Youngs (2) accuracy of Mark Caputo’s throwing in, of which C: Nurton (4) the doubt. A penalty and a drop goal were missed in C: Kerridge (2) Derwyn Jones was not slow to take advantage. Also P: Nurton the final minutes and we were left to ponder ‘what P: Kerridge (2) far too often they dropped passes at crucial times. 1979 - NICK YOUNGS TRY SCORER could have been’. After two penalties by Jarrod Cunningham, a move Bedford scorers by the Irish was finished off in confident style by T: Fielden 3o years ago Whetstone. Bedford struck back with a try of their own when George Truelove delivered a perfectly 1989 time pass to Dan Harris. He shipped it to Paul Fylde 3-21 Bedford Sackey who showed what a lethal finisher he is. Two penalties extended Irish’s lead and then improved ‘The weather conditions which dictated a handling set up Whetstone for his second try. somewhat scrappy game could not have been much worse with high winds and persistent rain. Bedford were first to score in the second half with Gareth The Fylde scrum-half was landed with some nightmare Bowen kicking a penalty, but ball and Bedford’s first try came when flanker Dave a try for wing Campbell left Francombe, who had an excellent game, got to a rolling London Irish with a rather ball first. Then Jim Chandler charged down a Fylde kick flattering score. and touched down for the second try. Like Francombe OPENING OF AMPTHILL’S CLUBHOUSE Chandler’s contribution was significant. Players he Bedford scorers 1999 tackles go hurtling backwards! With Stuart Vaudin T: Sackey - PAUL kicking a penalty the Blues led 13-0 at half-time. C: Bowen SACKEY

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