Rayer is optimistic over Albion game as Tupai returns
Bedford Blues head shots 2011-12. wk 34.
BLUES director of rugby Mike Rayer is optimistic that Saturday’s match against Plymouth at Goldington Road will be on despite the freezing weather, writes James Heneghan.
The game was originally scheduled to take place last weekend but the Arctic conditions led to it being re-arranged.
Rayer said: “We’re optimistic.
“We’re gearing up for the game as normal and that’s all we can do. The pitch is playable at the moment.
“I just want to encourage everyone to get down here. We’ve got England v Italy straight after and we need people coming through the turnstiles because it’s a tough time of year.”
Rayer also heaped praise on Bedford’s try-scoring hero this season, Josh Bassett, after he was included in the England U20 squad, saying: “We’re absolutely thrilled for Josh. He’s been on the fringes of the squad and he’s scored countless tries so he deserves it. I’m proud of the fact that he’s come through our academy set up.”
Bedford’s injury situation is looking much healthier as the play-offs approach with Paul Tupai the latest to return.
Rayer continued: “Tupai should be good to go this week but Ricky Reeves is not available. Luke Baldwin should also be available for us so we’ve got three scrum-halves battling for the position which is great.
“We’ve got three games left until the play-offs and it’s important to finish off in the right fashion.
“It’s a squad game and we have a great bunch of kids here. They eat up anything and always want more, the spirit is good.
“It’s impossible to keep the performance level up high every single week. We set out to be a really difficult side to beat and we like to think we’ve made sides work for victories as the amount of losing bonus-points that we’ve got shows that.
“There are so many good sides in that top eight, arguably anyone could win the competition.”
On Plymouth, Rayer added: “They might take it as a chance to rest players for the play-offs but they’ll be desperate for more points.
“You can’t take anything for granted, they’ll be looking for some momentum to take forward, like us.”
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Weather for Bedford
Tuesday 29 May 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 12 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South west
