Schmidt grabbed a hat-trick at Esher on Saturday

Bedford Blues wing Handre Schmidt says his lack of first-team action is not a problem when the side are winning.

Schmidt, 29, arrived at Goldington Road in the summer and scored a hat-trick in a rare start at the weekend.

He told BBC Three Counties Radio: "You do tend to think, 'what's wrong with me?' When everyone else is doing it.

"The competition's been really tough and that has been to the benefit of the team, everyone has to step up and make sure they're at their best constantly."

The South African joined the Blues from Cambridge after spending two successful years at Wests Renault Park.

But his chances have been limited by the impressive form of Ollie Dodge, James Pritchard and Edd Thrower, who scored a hat-trick a week ago against Rotherham.

However, Schmidt hit back with a hat-trick of his own in Saturday's 53-15 win at Championship strugglers Esher in his bid to retain a place in the starting XV, after 24 months of regular action at Cambridge.

"The squad's obviously much larger and you need to keep the players fresh for a longer campaign," he said.

"There is a certain amount of player rotation that needs to be going on.

"But at the same time the other players have been playing very well.

"It's also a case of fitting into a new environment, the game changes when you move up a level, it becomes a bit more physical and a bit faster and you need to acclimatise to that."

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