Try record down to resilience - Bedford's Adamson

Bedford Blues' Dean Adamson has scored 106 tries in 146 games

Bedford Blues wing Dean Adamson says becoming the all-time leading try scorer in the history of the Championship is down to resilience and willpower.

Adamson, 31, has 106 tries from 147 Championship games, breaking the record with a double in a 34-18 home win against Doncaster in October.

He first touched a rugby ball when he was five, joined the Blues Academy aged 17 and made his senior debut five years later.

During his career he has also had two brief stints at Rouen in France and Ampthill, but has spent 10 years playing for the Blues at Goldington Road.

"The record means a lot, no-one can take it away from me," he told BBC Look East.

"I play with amazing players and we play a great brand of rugby. We throw the ball about and wingers like me get to score tries.

"I remember walking through the gates here for the first time as a teenager.

"I love the crowd having my back. It's such a special place. It’s a great league and it’s undervalued.

"There’s nothing better than singing with your team-mates and enjoying a beer in the changing room when you win."

Adamson trains three times a week with the Blues, who are a semi-professional team in the second-tier Championship, which began in 1987.

He combines rugby with a job in property management, and admits there have been low points during his playing career.

"People see your tries but they don’t see the downs," he said.

"When you have a bad game, you can let it fester. You end up looking over tapes, but you ultimately have to back yourself if you know you’re doing the right things and stick at it.

"You need willpower to keep going and you need resilience."

Dean Adamson is tackled during a Premiership Rugby Cup game against Sale Sharks last season

Adamson cites taking care of himself physically as one of the reasons behind his success.

"I watched [England wing] Jonny May constantly focusing on stretching, so after a double hip operation I came up with my own routine. It is so important," he said.

"I work on my speed constantly too. There’s always another young lad quicker than you."

Adamson has one remaining ambition left - to become the club's all-time record try scorer, a record held since the 1970s by Derek Wyatt, who scored 145 tries in 152 games.

"I am proud to play for this town and Goldington Road is home," Adamson said.

"It's made me who I am. The record is a proud thing for me and my family and I'm not done yet."

That is good news indeed for director of rugby Mike Rayer, whose team are third in the Championship after five rounds of games.

"It's brilliant for him [to have the record], he's grown year on year, he's a senior player and keeps on scoring.

"He's great company in the changing rooms and, on the pitch, speaks for itself – a great guy to have around.

"He's very coachable, he's been here since the academy days. He always listens and contributes. He's a Bedfordshire boy and it's a great story."