EDF Trophy 5^th Round 08/09

Exeter Chiefs v Bedford Blues 

The EDF Trophy returns to Sandy Park this weekend for the 5^th round visit of Bedford Blues. The last time they met in the Trophy, actually it was the National Cup that year,  was 2 years ago where they met in the very same round at Goldington Road. On that occasion the Chiefs came away with scores level at 13-13, a very unlucky number for the Blues, with the Chiefs taking the spoils on the ‘away rule’. In 2007, Exeter’s considerably smaller squad bore just 13 members of the current one. 

Meetings between the teams in National League One have been bit of a see saw affair, with the Chiefs having won 7 of the previous 10 outings, the 3 that they lost having all been at Goldington Road, although this season has seen the Chiefs achieve the double over them, after a very close fixture away from home, with the return being more of a stroll in the park, although the Chiefs did let them back into the game after 60min on a very cold day, when the fixture was the only National One game to survive the arctic weather. Hopefully this fixture will be similar in more ways than just the weather, which is again forecast to be Arctic like, the snow and wintery showers should be gone, but the cold breeze will still be blowing, with the temperature hovering just above freezing. 

Previous fixtures:

08/09     H    40 – 21 w          A   23 – 26 w

07/08     H    27–6  w          A   14 – 12 l

06/07     H     35–0 w       A    22 – 10 l           

Cup 5^th Rnd       A          13 – 13 d

05/06      H    26–23w          A   28 – 13 l

04/05      H    42 – 21 w         A   20 – 39 w 

One name in particular was often mentioned around the ground on that day, the young Billy Twelvetrees, who attacked our line on several occasions. He is a promising 20 year old who came to Bedford from the Leicester stomping grounds, and has proven to be a great asset, now being their second highest points scorer this season with 12 tries, 12 conversions and 9 penalties to his name. 

Bedford have worked hard in the second half of the season and now see themselves just below Exeter, back in 3^rd position, and will be working hard to correct the mistakes made in their last visit to SP in January. 

The Chiefs are turning out with the same team as last week, bar 2 forced changes, one being due to Jon Andress’s well deserved selection for Ireland A on Friday. With the size and depth of our squad, the number of players unavailable due to injuries, International duties in the Seven’s World Series, Ireland A and England U20’s should not have a great effect. 

Prediction for this weekend:  Exeter 36 : 18  Bedford 

Good luck to Bridgwater & Albion who are due to meet Moseley in their 5^th round fixture.

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