By James Pritchard

Well I don’t think I could have asked for a better start to out playoff campaign than the 5 points we walked away with away at Rotherham on Saturday. Rotherham has never been a happy hunting ground for Bedford and things didn’t look good for 75 minutes as they hounded our try line and kept putting us under all sorts of pressure.

But credit to the boys, we held out their attacks and showed some of our class in the dying minutes as we took our opportunities and converted them to secure ourselves a great start and a 5 point win. And the news got better as we learned that the Pirates and Leeds drew there game and had to be happy with 2 points each.

But to be honest, we were in the same position last year, having beaten Rotherham at home in our first game we then failed to take advantage of that winning start and got turned over at home in our next game against the Pirates. So everyone knows there is nothing to celebrate just yet. We know that we have to turn up on Friday night ready to play and not let this opportunity slip. Like I’ve said before, your home games are a MUST win and you try and pick up as many points as you can on the road. So really, our playoffs start this Friday night at Goldington Road.

In the other group, the big surprise to everyone was Bristol’s win over Doncaster and the score line of 65 – 3. I honestly thought Doncaster would have been a tough hit out for Bristol and the score would have been much closer, but this just shows how much of a force Bristol have become this season and why they are favourites to head on back up to the Premiership. In the other match London Welsh were just to good for Nottingham and picked up 5 points from that game. Besides our game against the Pirates on Friday night at home, the other matches in the playoffs includes a Rotherham side who will have nothing to lose travelling to Leeds, Bristol are at home to London Welsh, while Doncaster travel to Nottingham.

With the 6 Nations rounded off on Saturday I think all eyes will be on the Wales v France game and whether or not the Welsh can complete a Grand Slam by doing away with a somewhat inconsistent French side, where you just never know what sort of team is going to turn up on the day. Italy take on Scotland at home and the English host Ireland down at Twickenham. Which if Ireland win, you’ll be hard pressed trying to find a sober Irishman or women with it being St Patrick’s as well.

Anyway that will be enough from me for this week. Enjoy for your rugby this weekend and don’t forget “Come On You Blues”.

James Pritchard is professional rugby player for Bedford Blues and Canada. Follow James on Twitter @JPritchard_21.