Preview: In-form sides go head-to-head as Blues tackle Jersey at Goldington Road

Jake Sharp won the match for the Blues with the last kick of the game against Nottingham

Bedford Blues return to Goldington Road this weekend as Jersey cross over the English Channel in Round 16 of the Greene King IPA Championship.

It may be Valentine’s weekend, but there won’t be much love in the air come 3pm as the Blues prepare to take on a Jersey side who are brimming with confidence having only tasted defeat once in their last five games.

Bedford are currently in a purple patch of their own having picked up a valuable win in the final minute of their encounter with Nottingham at Lady Bay on Sunday. Sam Blanchet’s try in the dying seconds was converted by Jake Sharp to keep the Blues’ 2016 unbeaten record intact.

Jersey took the spoils at St Peters when the two sides met back in October and the Blues know that they will have to be at the top of their game to take something from Harvey Biljon’s men.

Dean Adamson misses out this week having suffered a nasty knock to the head when he collided with Michael Le Bourgeois during the win over Nottingham.

Mark Flanagan is out with a knee injury and will undergo surgery soon while Jake Sharp has suffered a back strain. Both Pat Tapley and Tom Griffiths have recovered from foot injuries that they picked up in the win over London Welsh a fortnight ago.

Starting Line-up:

15. Piers O’Conor

14. Pat Tapley

13. Michael LeBourgeois

12. Tom Griffiths

11. Sam Blanchet

10. Myles Dorrian

9. Pete White

1. Camilo Parilli- Ocampo

2. Charlie Clare

3. Biyi Alo

4. Paul Tupai

5. Harry Wells

6. Justin Blanchet

7. Josh Buggea

8. Nick Fenton-Wells (c)

Replacements:

16. Sam James

17. James Currie

18. Hayden Thompson-Stringer

19. Joel Conlon

20. Jordan Burns

21. Steffan Jones

22. Henry Staff