‘Brilliant’ Bedford Blues have Newcastle Falcons in their sights

James Pritchard believes Bedford can do the Championship a favour and knock leaders Newcastle off their perch, when the Falcons visit Goldington Road in a fortnight.
Having beaten two of the strongest sides in the division away from home in Cornish Pirates and Bristol, Newcastle's trip to Bedford on November 3 is seen by many neutrals as the last chance for their bubble to burst before the play-offs.
So far the Falcons have romped to six victories – five with a try-bonus point – and have rarely looked troubled.
But Blues captain Pritchard, the Canadian international full-back/wing, says his side is playing “brilliant” rugby and are capable of giving the Falcons a run for their money.
“I think that's definitely the case,” he said. “Some of the rugby we play on our day is brilliant, that's the only way to describe it.
“But we do have patches where we lose our concentration and we can't afford to do that, especially not against Newcastle.
“In a lot of the games this season we've racked up big first-half scores only to switch off in the second half.
“At Jersey we were 29-0 up but we switched off mentally and let them back.”
While Bedford could disturb Newcastle, the game falls in the middle of a challenging period for the Blues. They visit Bristol a week today, quickly followed by home games against Newcastle and last year's beaten finalists Cornish Pirates.
Pritchard, said: “It's going to be a real big test with games against the ‘big three'.
“But everyone lifts against the side that comes down from the Premiership and wants to be the first to beat them.
“We'll get our chance soon, and when we do we'll be aiming to put in a strong performance of 80-minute rugby.
“Everyone in the league will be hoping Newcastle lose at least once or twice, but it's going to be tough. They know how to play rugby and how to grind out wins.
“Dean Richards got Harlequins back up and knows what it takes. He isn't going to take any game lightly.”
Even so, Pritchard says the Blues have set their targets high, aiming to better last season's second-place finish in the league and reach the British & Irish Cup final.
He said: “Since what happened to London Welsh it's been our goal to go one better than last year.
“I think seeing how good they have been going has only spurred everyone else in the Championship on.
“If you look at Exeter, too, they've come on in leaps and bounds. I think that was always going to happen, they just needed a chance.
“I think it's showing the gap between the Championship and Premiership isn't as big as what those Premiership clubs or their supporters like to think. And the gap is only getting closer.
“Yes, Welsh have brought some players in but some of the signings they've made, like Alfie To'oala and Tom Arscott, started their careers at Championship level.”
Pritchard has only had a brief taste of life at the top level, enduring an injury-plagued season at Perpignan in France as well as a brief stay at Northampton.
At 33, this is possibly his last chance to play in the Premiership with Bedford.
He said: “From a players' point of view everyone wants a shot at the big time. That's certainly the case here at Bedford.
“As a player you want to test yourself against the best opposition and you do that by playing in the Premiership.
“Promotion and relegation is a good thing and I'd like to think that if we did win the league there's something in place to enable us to make the next step.”
JON NEWCOMBE